Translating ‘enjoy’ in French can be confusing. France is known for its ‘douceur de vivre’, that is to say its relaxed and laid-back lifestyle. It’s also known that French people like to enjoy life in many ways, which translates differently in language. Depending on the context, you’ll have to chose a very different expression. Are you enjoying your time, some food, a party, having proper fun? To avoid the faux-pas, read on:
1/ To enjoy something / doing something : aimer, adorer, apprécier
- J’ai bien aimé faire du surf à Biarritz le week end dernier. I enjoyed surfing in Biarritz last weekend.
- Tu as aimé lire le dernier livre de Leïla Slimani ? Oui, j’ai adoré ! Did you enjoy reading the latest book of Leïla Slimani ? Yes, I really enjoyed it / I loved it!
- J’adore écouter les chansons de Pomme. I really enjoy (I love) listening to Pomme’s songs.
2/ To enjoy oneself / to have fun : bien s’amuser
- Je me suis bien amusée à la fête ! Il y avait de la bonne musique et une bonne ambiance. I had fun / I enjoyed myself at the party! There was good music and a good atmosphere.
- On s’est bien amusés avec Jay dans la voiture. On a chanté des chansons françaises pendant tout le trajet ! We had fun with Jay in the car. We sang French songs during the whole trip!
- Amuse-toi bien au mariage de Teona et Rémi / pendant tes vacances / au concert ! Enjoy yourself / Have fun at Teona and Remi’s wedding / during your holiday / at the gig !
Many students have difficulties to choose between “s’amuser” et “aimer/adorer/apprécier”. Here is my tip: always ask yourself if you’re talking about something really fun such as a gig, a birthday, etc — > if yes, then use “s’amuser” and if it’s not that fun, then you should use “aimer, adorer, apprécier”.
3/ To enjoy the use of something : profiter de / en profiter
- On est allés à la villa de ma tante à Nice. On a profité de la piscine, c’était super ! We went at my aunt’s villa, in Nice. We enjoyed the swimming pool, it was great!
- Ma soeur a un jacuzzi. J’en ai profité quand j’étais en vacances chez elle ! My sister has a jacuzzi. I enjoyed it when I was at her place!
In this case, you should ask yourself if you’re taking pleasure in using this special thing, that normally you don’t have.
4/ To enjoy food : se régaler
- J’ai préparé une tarte aux fruits. Régale-toi bien ! I prepared a fruit tart. Enjoy it!
- On a mangé au Coq d’Argent samedi soir. On s’est régalés ! We ate at the Coq d’Argent last Saturday evening. We enjoyed the food!
If you’d like to mention less enthusiastically that you liked the food, you could just say ‘J’ai apprécié / j’ai aimé le repas’.
5/ Enjoy ! : Profiter / En profiter (bien)!
If you want to translate ‘enjoy!’ as an interjection, you should use the verb ‘profiter’ or the expression ‘en profiter’ in the imperative form, and emphasise it with ‘bien’ :
- Tu pars en vacances ? Profites-en bien! You’re going on holiday? Enjoy!
- Vous allez au mariage de Rémi ? Profitez(-en bien) ! You’re going to Remi’s wedding? Enjoy!
- Tu pars au Carnaval de Rio ? Profite ! You’re going to Rio’s Carnival? Enjoy!
If you remove the pronoun ‘en’ and the adverb ‘bien’, your sentence will just sound more more colloquial, not rude though!
6/ Enjoy the film, your holiday, your meal, etc…! : Bon + noun !
Bon film ! Enjoy the film!
Bonnes vacances ! Enjoy your holiday!
Bon appétit ! Enjoy your meal!
7/ Both enjoy something and enjoy oneself in a colloquial and young way : kiffer
Tu as aimé la série Vernon Subutex? J’ai trop kiffé ! Did you like the series Vernon Subutex? I loved it!
Alors le concert de Christine and the Queens? J’ai kiffé ! So the gig of Christine and the Queens ? I really enjoyed it! I really enjoyed myself!
Note that only young people use the verb ‘kiffer’.