Synonyms for Très

If you want to make your French sound more, well, French, one place to start is with your vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms. The adverb très is one example of a very common word that can be replaced by any of a number of synonyms, in both normal and informal registers. Take a look at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "very," and be sure to note the differences in intensity. Click on each word to hear it pronounced.

Très - very

Il est très intelligent
He is very smart

J'ai très faim
I am very hungry

Très is the basic, normal register term that can be used just about any time you want to emphasize something. It can be used in front of adjectives, adverbs, and even certain nouns (most of those that refer to feelings but use avoir to mean "to be")

Assez

quite, rather

Je suis assez fatigué
I'm rather tired

La situation est assez inquiétante
The situation is quite worrisome

Bien

very, quite

C'est bien simple
It's quite simple

Nous sommes bien contents
We're very happy

Tenez-vous bien droit
Stand up very straight

Exceptionnellement

exceptionally

C'était exceptionnellement difficile
It was exceptionally difficult

La situation est exceptionnellement complexe
The situation is exceptionally complicated

Note that exceptionnellement is a semi-false cognate, as it can also describe something as an exception to the norm:
Exceptionnellement, je vous en parlerai - Just this once I will talk to you about it

Extraordinairement

extraordinarily

Elle est extraordinairement anxieuse
She is extraordinarily anxious

Il a des cheveux extraordinairement frisés
He has extraordinarily curly hair

Extraordinairement can also mean "in a bizarre way":
Elle est vêtue extraordinairement - She is dressed very strangely

Extrêmement

extremely

Il est extrêmement beau
He is extremely handsome

Elle est extrêmement intelligente
She is extremely intelligent

Fort (formal and somewhat old-fashioned)

most, very

J'en serais fort content
I would be most pleased about that

C'est une histoire fort triste
It's a very sad story

Hautement

highly, very

Il est hautement qualifié
He is highly qualified

Ce livre est hautement recommandé
This book is highly recommended

Infiniment

infinitely, immensely

Je vous suis infiniment reconnaissant
I am infinitely grateful (to you)

Cette pièce est infiniment longue
This play is immensely long

Tout

quite, very

Je suis tout étonné
I'm quite surprised

Il est tout rouge
He's all/very red

Trop

too, very

Vous êtes trop aimable
You are too kind

Elle est trop mignonne
She is too cute

Note that trop technically means "too" rather than "very," but can be used like "too" in English, when it means "so very" rather than literally "excessively."

Vraiment

really, very

Je suis vraiment fatigué
I'm really tired

Elle est vraiment belle
She is really beautiful

Continue on to page 2 for informal synonyms for très like vachement, hyper, and more.