Beaucoup vs Très – A Lot vs Very
This short guide explains when to use beaucoup and when to use très, with quick examples to make the difference clear.
Beaucoup
Use beaucoup to indicate a large quantity, and it normally appears after the noun or with a verb rather than directly before an adjective.
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Très
Use très to intensify an adjective or adverb; it goes directly before the word it modifies to increase its degree.
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Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 🥐 J’ai beaucoup de croissants ce matin. | I have a lot of croissants this morning. | Quantity with noun |
| ☕ Elle boit beaucoup de café. | She drinks a lot of coffee. | Quantity with noun |
| 👜 Il y a beaucoup de monde au marché. | There are a lot of people at the market. | Quantity with noun |
| 🍓 J’ai beaucoup acheté de fraises. | I bought a lot of strawberries. | Quantity with verb |
| 🍰 Le gâteau est très joli. | The cake is very pretty. | Intensity with adjective |
| ☀️ Il fait très beau aujourd’hui. | The weather is very nice today. | Intensity with adjective |
| 🐶 Le chien est très gentil. | The dog is very kind. | Intensity with adjective |
| 🏃♀️ Elle court très vite. | She runs very fast. | Intensity with adverb |
Summary
Remember: use beaucoup for large amounts and très to strengthen descriptions; switching them changes the meaning or sounds unnatural.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025