Skip to content

certains

certain (ones), some

determiner sehr-TAN Less Common

Usage Note

Certains is the masculine plural form used either as a determiner before a noun (certains jours — 'certain days') or as a pronoun (certains pensent que... — 'some people think that...'). The feminine plural is certaines. As a pronoun it often implies 'some people' without naming them.

Examples

"Certains élèves ont déjà fini l'examen."

Natural Translation

Some students have already finished the exam.

Literal Translation

Certain students have already finished the-exam.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic