French word

valoir

Pronunciation

IPA/valwaʁ/

Meaning

  • verbbe worth

Example

Ce livre vaut dix euros.

This book is worth ten euros.

Illustration for valoir (be worth)

More examples

Ce spectacle peut valoir le déplacement.

This show may be worth the trip.

Core concept

A scale weighing a thing's benefit against its cost or effort.

Common phrases

  • valoir le déplacement

    be worth the trip

  • valoir la peine

    be worth the effort

  • valoir son prix

    be worth its price

Similar words

coûter: To require a particular amount of money to buy or use.
mériter: To deserve praise, recognition, or a reward.
rapporter: To generate financial profit or income.
servir: To be useful for a purpose or situation.

Definition in French

Mériter une attention, un effort ou une dépense; indiquer qu'une chose a de l'intérêt ou de l'utilité.

Word origin

Valoir descends from Latin valere, meaning to be strong or have worth, through Old French, and shares this root with French valeur.

Usage tips

  • In the present tense, valoir has irregular forms: je vaux, il vaut, and ils valent.

Other meanings

  • deserveverb
  • be validverb

Opposites

  • déprécierdevalueverb

Related words

Word lists with this word