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what is whatever in french ?

What is “Whatever” in French?

When we say “whatever” in English, it’s often used to express indifference, a lack of preference, or resignation. Translating this versatile word into French can be a bit more nuanced depending on the context and the tone of the sentence in which it is used. In this article, we’ll explore some common translations of “whatever” when used in different contexts.

Expressing Indifference

One of the most common uses of “whatever” is to express a lack of interest or preference. In this context, you might use one of the following French expressions:

– Peu importe: Indicates that something is insignificant and that you don’t care a lot about the outcome. For example, “Je vais aller au cinéma ce soir, peu importe ce que tu en penses” means “I’m going to the movies tonight, whatever your opinion.”
– N’importe quoi: Used more figuratively, it can express a similar sort of indifference but also indicates that something is not reasonable or makes no sense.

Expressing a General Condition

Sometimes “whatever” is used to introduce a clause or to mean “X no matter what,” such as in “Whatever happens, I will support you.” In this context, you can use:

– Quoi qu’il arrive: “Whatever happens,” is structured to mean regardless of what happens.
E.g., “Quoi qu’il arrive, je t’appuierai.”

There are many ways to express “no matter what,” depending on context:
– Quoi que + verb: “Whatever the weather, we’re going to the beach.” → “Quoi qu’il fasse, nous allons à la plage.”
– Peu importe ce qui se passe: Can also be used to mean “no matter what happens” or “whatever happens.”

Expressing Disbelief or Lack of Interest

When “whatever” is used to express disbelief or a lack of interest without wanting to refute a point outright, it’s sometimes translated as:

– N’importe quoi: Used to express disbelief or that something is illogical or nonsensical.

Expressing Inclusivity or Looseness

As in “Whatever you like” or “Whatever suits you,” you can use:

– Qu’est-ce qui vous convient or N’importe quoi/lequel que vous choisissiez (masculine form) when trying to suggest that a person can choose from a wide range of options.

In conclusion, translating “whatever” into French primarily depends on the speaker’s intention and the context. Whether it’s used to indicate a lack of interest, to express a general condition, to show disbelief, or a general inclusivity, there are multiple nuanced ways to express it in French. Each of these translations can be seen in different contexts, and depending on the context, one will often prefer one expression over another.