French for Beginners: Express Music Preferences and Compare Tastes with Friends
Learn to say 'I love pop' or 'I'm a big fan of jazz' in French, and compare music tastes with friends using simple phrases and the verb 'adorer'.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to express your music preferences in French, such as saying you love pop or that you are a big fan of jazz. You will also learn how to ask friends about their tastes and compare them. We focus on the verb 'adorer' (to love) and the expression 'être fan de' (to be a fan of), which are common in everyday conversation. By the end, you will be able to talk about music genres and artists, and respond to others' preferences. This lesson is for beginners, so we keep sentences simple and provide pronunciation help.
By the end, you can…
- say which music genres I love or am a fan of in French.
- ask someone about their music preferences and compare tastes.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
J'adore la pop.
I love pop.
zhah-DOR luh pop
Use 'adorer' to express strong liking. 'La pop' is feminine, so use 'la'.
Je suis un grand fan de jazz.
I'm a big fan of jazz.
zhuh swee un grahn fahn duh jaz
For a male speaker. For a female speaker, say 'une grande fan de jazz'.
Tu aimes quel genre de musique ?
What kind of music do you like?
tew em kel zhahn-ruh duh mew-ZEEK
Informal 'tu' form. Use 'vous' with strangers or in formal situations: 'Vous aimez quel genre de musique ?'
Moi, j'aime le rock, mais je n'aime pas le rap.
Me, I like rock, but I don't like rap.
mwah, zhem luh rok, meh zhuh nem pah luh rap
Use 'mais' to contrast. 'Le rock' and 'le rap' are masculine.
On a les mêmes goûts musicaux !
We have the same musical tastes!
on ah lay mem goo mew-ZEE-koh
Use 'on' for 'we' in informal conversation. 'Les mêmes goûts' means 'the same tastes'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To express what you love, use 'J'adore' + [genre]. For example: 'J'adore la pop.' (I love pop.) 'J'adore le jazz.' (I love jazz.) Note that genres have gender: 'la pop' is feminine, 'le jazz' and 'le rock' are masculine. To say you are a fan, use 'Je suis fan de' + [genre] or [artist]. For example: 'Je suis fan de jazz.' (I'm a fan of jazz.) 'Je suis fan de Beyoncé.' (I'm a fan of Beyoncé.) For emphasis, add 'un grand' (male) or 'une grande' (female): 'Je suis un grand fan de jazz.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when talking about music with friends or acquaintances. 'J'adore' is stronger than 'j'aime' (I like). If you want to be more neutral, say 'J'aime bien' (I quite like). To ask about someone's taste, use 'Tu aimes quel genre de musique ?' (informal) or 'Vous aimez quel genre de musique ?' (formal). To compare, say 'Moi aussi' (me too) if you agree, or 'Pas moi' (not me) if you disagree. For example: 'J'adore la pop. – Moi aussi !' (I love pop. – Me too!) 'Je n'aime pas le rap. – Moi non plus.' (I don't like rap. – Me neither.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Salut ! Tu aimes quel genre de musique ?
Hi! What kind of music do you like?sah-LOO! tew em kel zhahn-ruh duh mew-ZEEKJ'adore la pop, et je suis une grande fan de jazz. Et toi ?
I love pop, and I'm a big fan of jazz. And you?zhah-DOR luh pop, ay zhuh swee ewn grahnd fahn duh jaz. ay twahMoi, j'aime le rock, mais je n'aime pas trop la pop. On a des goûts différents !
Me, I like rock, but I don't like pop much. We have different tastes!mwah, zhem luh rok, meh zhuh nem pah troh luh pop. on ah day goo dee-fay-RAHNOui, mais on aime tous les deux la musique ! Tu veux écouter un groupe de rock ?
Yes, but we both like music! Do you want to listen to a rock band?wee, meh on em too lay duh luh mew-ZEEK! tew vuh ay-koo-TAY un groop duh rokA little context goes a long way
In French-speaking cultures, music taste is a common topic for casual conversation, but it's polite to avoid criticizing someone else's preferences directly. Instead of saying 'C'est nul' (That's rubbish), you can say 'Ce n'est pas trop mon truc' (It's not really my thing). Also, in France, 'la variété française' (French pop) and 'le rap français' are popular genres. In Quebec, 'la musique francophone' often includes local artists. When speaking with strangers, use 'vous' until they invite you to use 'tu'.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je suis fan de la jazz' or 'Je suis fan de le rock'.
Try this instead: Genres have gender, and 'de' contracts with the article. Say 'Je suis fan de jazz' (no article after 'de' in this expression) or 'Je suis fan de rock'. For 'la pop', you can say 'Je suis fan de pop'. If you use 'adorer', include the article: 'J'adore le jazz', 'J'adore la pop'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I love pop' in French?
Show a sample answer
J'adore la pop.
'J'adore' means 'I love', and 'la pop' is the feminine noun for pop music. You could also say 'J'aime la pop' for 'I like pop', but 'j'adore' is stronger.
2Translate: 'I'm a big fan of jazz.' (for a male speaker)
Show a sample answer
Je suis un grand fan de jazz.
Use 'un grand fan' for a male. For a female, it's 'une grande fan'. The preposition 'de' is used before the genre, and no article is needed after 'de' in this phrase.
3Ask a friend informally: 'What kind of music do you like?'
Show a sample answer
Tu aimes quel genre de musique ?
This uses the informal 'tu' form. For formal, use 'Vous aimez quel genre de musique ?'. The word order is flexible; you could also say 'Quel genre de musique aimes-tu ?' but the first is more common in speech.
Use 'J'adore' + genre to say you love something, and 'Je suis fan de' + genre or artist to say you're a fan. Remember gender: 'la pop', 'le jazz', 'le rock'. Compare tastes with 'Moi aussi' or 'Pas moi'.
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