Pronunciation: [ah vwar lehr]
Meaning: to look, seem
Literal translation: to have the look
Register: normal
Notes: The French expression avoir l'air describes someone's appearance, how that person looks or looked at a particular moment. It can be used with an adjective, noun, or verb.
Avoir l'air + adjective
= To look _____.(Note that the adjective does not change to agree with the subject; it is always masculine singular to agree with air.)
Il a l'air étonné.
He looks astonished.
Elles avaient l'air très content.
They looked very happy.
Avoir l'air de + noun
= To look like a(n) _____.Tu as l'air d'un artiste.
You look like an artist.
Charlotte avait l'air d'une princesse.
Charlotte looked like a princess.
Avoir l'air de + infinitive
= To look like one is / was _____-ing.Daniel a l'air d'aller à une fête.
Daniel looks like he's going to a party.
Vous aviez l'air d'être en retard.
You looked like you were running late.
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Synonyms
- paraître - to look, appear
- ressembler - to resemble
- sembler - to seem
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