Penser Expressions

Thinking French Phrases

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The French verb penser, “to think,” is found in many idiomatic expressions, including a way of thinking, one-track mind, and you must be joking. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring penser.

Penser translations

• to think
• to think about
• to consider
• to have on one’s mind
• to hope to
• to intend to

Penser expressions

penser à			to think about, have in mind; to think of, remember
penser à l’avenir			to think of the future
penser à tout			to think of everything
penser aux conséquences			to think of the consequences
penser au danger			to think about / consider the danger
penser de			to think about, have an opinion on
penser du bien de			to have a high opinion about
penser du mal de			to have a low opinion about
penser faire			to think about, consider doing
penser le plus grande bien de			to think very highly of
penser tout haut			to think out loud
À quoi penses-tu / pensez-vous ?			What are you thinking about?
Ça ne vaut pas la peine d’y penser.			It’s not worth thinking about.
C’est bien ce que je pensais !			Just what I thought! That’s what I thought!
C’est bien pensé.			It’s well thought out.
C’est fortement pensé.			It’s well thought out.
Elle ne pense qu’à ça.	(informal)		She has a one-track mind.
faire qqun penser à			to make someone think of / remind someone of
Fais / Faites m’y penser.			Remind me about that, Don’t let me forget that.
Honi soit qui mal y pense			Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it, This person has hidden evil intentions
Il ne pense qu’à ça.	(informal)		He has a one-track mind.
Il suffit d’y penser.			It’s just a matter of thinking about it.
J’ai bien autre chose à penser.	(informal)		I have other things on my mind.
Je pense bien			I think so
Je pense comme toi / vous.			I agree with you.
Je pense, donc je suis.			I think, therefore I am.
Je pense que non			I don’t think so, I think not.
Je pense que oui			I think so.
Je pense que si			I think so (in reponse to a negative)
Mais j’y pense …			I just remembered …
Penses-tu ! Pensez-vous !			You must be joking!
Penses-y / Pensez-y avant de …			Think about it before …
Que penses-tu / pensez-vous de … ?			What do you think,  How do you feel about … ?
Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?			What do you think (about it)?
Qu’en pensez-vous ?			What do you think (about it)?
Tout laisse à penser que…			There is every indication that…
Tu penses ! Vous pensez !			Not likely!
Tu penses que je vais … !	(informal)		You bet I’m going to … !
Tu penses / Vous pensez bien que …			You can imagine that, As you’d expect …
Tu vois à qui / quoi je pense ?			You see whom / What I’m thinking of?
une façon de penser			a way of thinking
la machine à penser			thinking machine
un maître à penser			intellectual leader
quelque chose qui donne à penser			something that gives you food for thought, something to think about
quelque chose qui laisse à penser			something that gives you food for thought, something to think about

 Related lessons

• Penser conjugations
• Using penser
• Expressing opinions
• Prepositions
• Tu vs vous

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