rêver
fr
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Translating...
to dream (while sleeping), to daydream, to imagine while awake, to wish for, to hope for
/ʁe.ve/
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Experiencing mental images or fantasies, whether while asleep, in idle reverie, or as a wish for something.
Examples
En classe, elle rêve à des mondes lointains.
In class, she daydreams about distant worlds.
Il rêve toujours d'un futur meilleur.
He dreams always of a better future.
Il rêve de gagner au loto pendant la réunion.
He daydreams about winning the lottery during the meeting.
Ils rêvent de voyager autour du monde sans contraintes.
They daydream of traveling around the world without constraints.
Après le film, j'ai rêvé d'être le héros.
After the movie, I dreamed of being the hero.
Similar words
imaginer
aspirer à
fantasmer
se figurer
se projeter
se perdre dans ses pensées
désirer
fantasmer
songer
songer
Meanings
Usage
Use rêver to talk about dreaming during sleep.
Examples
Chaque nuit, elle rêve d'aventures extraordinaires.
Each night, she dreams of extraordinary adventures.
Après le film, j'ai rêvé d'être le héros.
After the movie, I dreamed of being the hero.
Il rêve toujours d'un futur meilleur.
He dreams always of a better future.
Nous avons rêvé d'un monde sans guerre.
We dreamed of a world without war.
Quand j'étais petit, je rêvais de devenir astronaute.
When I was little, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
Elle rêve d'une vie tranquille à la campagne.
She dreams of a quiet life in the countryside.
Ils rêvent de gagner le championnat.
They dream of winning the championship.
Common mistakes
The verb is often mistakenly given a direct object.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Je rêve le voyage.
| Je rêve du voyage.
|
| Il rêve à être riche.
| Il rêve d'être riche.
|
| Nous rêvons les vacances.
| Nous rêvons de vacances.
|
Similar words
songer
imaginer
se projeter
fantasmer
se figurer
se représenter
Usage
Use rêver for daydreaming or imagining while awake.
Examples
En classe, elle rêve à des mondes lointains.
In class, she daydreams about distant worlds.
Il rêve de gagner au loto pendant la réunion.
He daydreams about winning the lottery during the meeting.
Je rêvais d'être un peintre célèbre en écoutant la musique.
I daydreamed of being a famous painter while listening to music.
Nous rêvons d'un futur où tout le monde est heureux.
We daydream of a future where everyone is happy.
Elle rêve à la plage pendant le trajet en train.
She daydreams about the beach during the train ride.
Tu rêvais d'un gâteau géant pendant le cours de maths.
You daydreamed of a giant cake during math class.
Ils rêvent de voyager autour du monde sans contraintes.
They daydream of traveling around the world without constraints.
Common mistakes
It is sometimes confused with the noun rêve or with imaginer.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Je rêve le tableau.
| Je rêve du tableau.
|
| Il rêve la solution.
| Il réfléchit à la solution.
|
| Nous rêvons les vacances.
| Nous rêvons de vacances.
|
Similar words
songer
fantasmer
se perdre dans ses pensées
se laisser aller
imaginer
se projeter
Usage
Use rêver with de to express a wish or hope.
Examples
Je rêve d'une vie sans stress.
I wish for a life without stress.
Elle rêve de rencontrer son idole.
She hopes to meet her idol.
Nous rêvons d'un monde plus juste.
We dream of a more just world.
Il rêve d'obtenir une promotion.
He dreams of getting a promotion.
Tu rêves d'une maison au bord de la mer.
You dream of a house by the sea.
Ils rêvent d'une carrière internationale.
They dream of an international career.
Vous rêvez de réussir vos examens.
You dream of passing your exams.
Common mistakes
It is often used with the wrong preposition or as a transitive verb.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Je rêve le succès.
| Je rêve de succès.
|
| Il rêve à une promotion.
| Il rêve d'une promotion.
|
| Nous rêvons les vacances.
| Nous rêvons de vacances.
|
Similar words
désirer
espérer
souhaiter
aspirer à
vouloir
ambitionner
Usage
Use rêver for dreaming while asleep, for daydreaming, and for wishing, always with de for the latter and never with a direct object.
Common mistakes
A direct object is not used, e.g., Je rêve le voyage is wrong.
FAQ
What does rêver mean in French?
rêver can mean to dream while sleeping, to daydream, or to wish for something.
How do you use rêver to talk about sleeping dreams?
Use it in the infinitive or conjugated form without a direct object, e.g., Je rêve de vacances.
Can rêver be used for daydreaming?
Yes, rêver also describes daydreaming or imagining while awake.
How do you express a wish with rêver?
Pair rêver with the preposition de, as in Je rêve d'une promotion.
Is rêver a transitive verb?
No, rêver is intransitive; it never takes a direct object.
What preposition follows rêver when wishing for something?
The correct preposition is de, not à or le.
What are common mistakes with rêver?
Common errors include using a direct object (Je rêve le voyage) or the wrong preposition (Je rêve à une promotion).
Are there synonyms for rêver?
Yes, synonyms include songer, fantasmer, imaginer, and désirer depending on the sense.
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