French: Expressing Strong Certainty with 'Sûr', 'Certain' and 'Bien Sûr'
Learn to express strong certainty in French using sûr, certain, bien sûr, and related phrases, and tell them apart from possibility.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In French, strong certainty is usually expressed with adjectives like sûr and certain, or with the adverb sûrement. These words show confidence, not mere possibility. This lesson teaches you to say things like 'Je viens, c'est sûr' (I'm definitely coming) and 'Il est sûr de réussir' (He is sure to succeed). You will also learn the fixed phrases bien sûr and c'est certain, and how to avoid confusing certainty with possibility words such as peut-être or probablement.
By the end, you can…
- express strong certainty using sûr, certain, and sûrement.
- use bien sûr and c'est sûr in everyday conversation.
- distinguish certainty from possibility in French.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Je viens, c'est sûr.
I'm definitely coming.
zhuh vyen, say sewr
Very common spoken pattern. C'est sûr adds strong personal certainty at the end of a sentence.
Je suis sûr de venir.
I'm sure I'm coming.
zhuh swee sewr duh vuh-neer
Use sûr + de + infinitive when the subject is the same. Sûr agrees with the speaker: sûr, sûre.
Il est certain qu'elle viendra.
It's certain that she will come.
eel ay ser-tan kel vyan-dra
Certain que + indicative expresses objective certainty. In writing, use the ne explétif: il n'est pas certain qu'elle vienne.
Bien sûr !
Of course!
byan sewr
Fixed phrase meaning 'certainly' or 'of course'. It can sound slightly impatient if overused.
Elle va sûrement réussir.
She is definitely going to succeed.
el va sewr-mahn ray-oo-seer
Sûrement before the infinitive or after the verb expresses strong probability or certainty.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is être sûr / être certain + de + infinitive when one person is the subject: Je suis sûr de venir. When the subject changes, use que + a full clause: Je suis sûr qu'il vient. For impersonal certainty, use il est certain que + indicative: Il est certain qu'elle viendra. Sûrement works as an adverb: Il viendra sûrement. Remember agreement: sûr, sûre, sûrs, sûres.
When to use it
Use these expressions when you want to state confidence, not possibility. Compare: Peut-être qu'il viendra (Maybe he'll come) versus Il viendra sûrement (He'll definitely come). Use bien sûr for polite agreement or obviousness: Tu viens ? — Bien sûr ! Use c'est sûr in informal speech to reinforce a statement: On gagne, c'est sûr. Avoid sûrement for a logical deduction in formal writing; there, use certainement or sans aucun doute.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu viens à la fête samedi ?
Are you coming to the party on Saturday?tew vyen a la fet sam-deeBien sûr ! Je viens, c'est sûr.
Of course! I'm definitely coming.byan sewr! zhuh vyen, say sewrTu es sûr de pouvoir venir ?
Are you sure you can come?tew ay sewr duh poo-vwahr vuh-neerOui, je suis certain de venir.
Yes, I'm certain I'm coming.wee, zhuh swee ser-tan duh vuh-neerA little context goes a long way
In everyday French, c'est sûr and bien sûr are extremely common in speech, while il est certain que sounds more formal or written. In Quebec French, sûr can be pronounced with a looser vowel, and c'est sûr is also frequent. Use vous forms with strangers: Vous êtes sûr ?
One thing to watch for
Using peut-être to mean 'definitely', as in Je viens peut-être.
Try this instead: Peut-être means 'maybe', not 'definitely'. Say Je viens, c'est sûr or Je viens sûrement for certainty.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'm sure I'm coming' when you are female?
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Je suis sûre de venir.
Sûr agrees with the speaker, so a female speaker writes sûre. Je suis sûr de venir is correct for a male speaker.
2Translate: 'She will certainly succeed.'
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Elle va sûrement réussir. or Elle réussira sûrement.
Sûrement is the adverb of certainty. Both the near future and simple future are correct.
3Which is stronger: 'Peut-être qu'il vient' or 'Il vient sûrement'?
Show a sample answer
Il vient sûrement is stronger.
Peut-être expresses possibility; sûrement expresses strong certainty.
Use c'est sûr and bien sûr for everyday certainty, être sûr/certain de for personal confidence, and sûrement for strong probability. Keep peut-être for possibility only.
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