aimer

to love

verb eh-MEH Common

Also means

to like

Usage Note

Aimer means both to love and to like, so the French lean on bien to dial it down — je t'aime is a declaration of love, but je t'aime bien means 'I just like you'. It also powers aimer mieux (to prefer) and shares roots with un amant, a lover with a whiff of scandal.

Examples

"J'aime beaucoup ce film."

Natural Translation

I really like this film.

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