avoir beau

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no matter how, however much, although, try in vain
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/avwaʁ bo/
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To acknowledge an effort or fact while showing that it does not change the result.
Practice using avoir beau in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • On a beau dire, ce restaurant reste le meilleur du quartier.
    Whatever people may say, this restaurant remains the best in the neighbourhood.
  • Elle a beau expliquer la règle, personne ne comprend.
    However much she explains the rule, nobody understands.
  • J'ai beau essayer, je n'arrive pas à ouvrir ce bocal.
    No matter how much I try, I cannot open this jar.
  • Tu auras beau protester, la décision ne changera pas.
    However much you protest, the decision will not change.
  • Il avait beau être fatigué, il continuait à travailler.
    Although he was tired, he kept working.

Similar words

malgré tous ses efforts
même si
quoi que l'on fasse

Meanings

Try in vain or concede a fact

grammar
neutral
Marks that an action, effort, or fact makes no difference to the outcome, usually translated with 'no matter how', 'however much', or 'although'.

Examples

  • J'ai beau essayer, je n'arrive pas à ouvrir ce bocal.
    No matter how much I try, I cannot open this jar.
  • Elle a beau expliquer la règle, personne ne comprend.
    However much she explains the rule, nobody understands.
  • Nous avons eu beau chercher, nous n'avons pas trouvé les clés.
    Although we searched everywhere, we did not find the keys.
  • Tu auras beau protester, la décision ne changera pas.
    However much you protest, the decision will not change.
  • Il avait beau être fatigué, il continuait à travailler.
    Although he was tired, he kept working.
  • On a beau dire, ce restaurant reste le meilleur du quartier.
    Whatever people may say, this restaurant remains the best in the neighbourhood.

Similar words

quoi que l'on fasse
malgré tous ses efforts
même si

Etymology

A fixed construction made from avoir, 'to have', and beau, 'fine' or 'good', followed by an infinitive. Older French associated having a fine opportunity with acting freely, but the modern construction settled into the concessive idea that even a strong effort proves useless.

FAQ

What does avoir beau mean?

Avoir beau marks an effort or fact that does not change the outcome, like 'no matter how' or 'although'.

What comes after avoir beau?

An infinitive follows avoir beau: avoir beau essayer, avoir beau expliquer, avoir beau être.

How is avoir beau conjugated?

Only avoir changes: j'ai beau, elle avait beau, nous avons eu beau, and vous aurez beau.

Does avoir beau mean something is beautiful?

No. In this fixed construction, beau does not describe beauty and remains unchanged.

What does j'ai beau essayer mean?

J'ai beau essayer means 'no matter how much I try' or 'although I try'.

How is avoir beau pronounced?

Avoir beau is pronounced /avwaʁ bo/.

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