were in the Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary

Translations for were in the English»French Dictionary

were [Brit wə, Am wər] VB pt

were → be

See also be

be <pres part being, 3e pers sg prés is, prét was, pp been> [Brit biː, Am bi] VB intr

1. be (gen):

be

être

it's me, it's I

c'est moi

he's a good pupil

c'est un bon élève

2. be (in probability):

if Henri were here

si Henri était là

were it not that…

si ce n'était que…

were they to know

s'ils savaient

if I were you

à ta place

had it not been for Frank, I'd have missed the train

sans Frank j'aurais raté le train

3. be (phrases):

so be it

d'accord

be that as it may

quoi qu'il en soit

as it were

pour ainsi dire

even if it were so

même si c'était le cas

I preferred it as it was

je l'aimais mieux avant

leave it as it is

ne changez rien

to be or not to be

être ou ne pas être

let or leave him be

laisse-le tranquille

we're [Brit wɪə, Am wɪr, wər]

we're → we are

be <pres part being, 3e pers sg prés is, prét was, pp been> [Brit biː, Am bi] VB intr

1. be (gen):

be

être

it's me, it's I

c'est moi

he's a good pupil

c'est un bon élève

2. be (in probability):

if Henri were here

si Henri était là

were it not that…

si ce n'était que…

were they to know

s'ils savaient

if I were you

à ta place

had it not been for Frank, I'd have missed the train

sans Frank j'aurais raté le train

3. be (phrases):

so be it

d'accord

be that as it may

quoi qu'il en soit

as it were

pour ainsi dire

even if it were so

même si c'était le cas

I preferred it as it was

je l'aimais mieux avant

leave it as it is

ne changez rien

to be or not to be

être ou ne pas être

let or leave him be

laisse-le tranquille

would-be [Brit ˈwʊdbi, Am ˈwʊd ˌbi] ADJ

1. would-be (desirous of being):

would-be emigrants/investors

des émigrés/investisseurs en puissance

would-be intellectuals pej

des soi-disant or prétendus intellectuels pej

2. would-be (having intended to be):

the would-be thieves were arrested

les voleurs ont été arrêtés avant qu'ils aient pu passer à l'acte

BE N abrév

BE → bill of exchange

See also bill of exchange

bill of exchange, BE N

bill of exchange COMM, FIN

lettre f de change

never-to-be-forgotten ADJ

never-to-be-forgotten

inoubliable

mother-to-be N

mother-to-be

future mère f

mother-to-be

future maman f

bill of exchange, BE N

bill of exchange COMM, FIN

lettre f de change

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

his hearers were enthralled

son auditoire a été fasciné

certain items were unpriced

certains articles n'étaient pas étiquetés

were in the PONS Dictionary

Translations for were in the English»French Dictionary

were [wɜ:ʳ, Am wɜ:r] VB

were pt of be

See also be

I.be <was, been> [bi:] VB intr + adj or n

1. be (expresses identity, position, place):

he's be English/a dentist

il est anglais/dentiste

it's a key

c'est une clef

to be in Spain

être en Espagne

the statues are in the Louvre

les statues se trouvent au Louvre

2. be (expresses a state, situation):

I'm cold/hungry

j'ai froid/faim

my hands are cold

j'ai froid aux mains

how are you? — I'm fine

comment vas-tu/allez-vous? — je vais bien

be quiet!

reste(z) tranquille!

to be on a diet

faire un régime

to be on the pill

prendre la pilule

to be on benefit [or welfare Am]

toucher des allocations

3. be (expresses calculation/price):

two and two is four

deux et deux font quatre

this book is 50p

ce livre fait 50 pence

4. be (indicates age):

how old is he? — he's twenty

quel âge a-t-il? — il a vingt ans

5. be (take place):

the meeting is next Tuesday

la réunion a lieu mardi prochain

6. be (exist):

there is/are ...

il y a ...

let her be!

laisse-la tranquille!

7. be (impersonal use):

what is it?

qu'est-ce que c'est?

it's three

il est trois heures

it's cold/windy

il fait froid/du vent

it's rainy

il pleut

it's fair

c'est juste

what's it to be?

ce sera?

as it were

pour ainsi dire

Phrases:

the be-all and end-all

le but suprême

be that as it may

malgré cela

so be it

soit

far be it from sb to +infin

loin de qn l'idée de +infin

II.be <was, been> [bi:] VB aux

1. be (expresses continuation):

he's breathing

il respire

she's still sleeping

elle est encore en train de dormir

it's raining

il pleut

2. be (expresses possibility):

can it be that ...? form

est-ce possible que +subj ?

the exhibition is to be seen at the gallery

on peut voir l'exposition à la galerie

what is he to do?

qu'est-il censé faire?

may I be of service?

je peux vous aider?

3. be (expresses passive):

to be discovered by sb

être découvert par qn

to be left speechless

rester bouche bée

I'm asked to come at seven

on me demande de venir à sept heures

4. be (expresses future):

she's leaving tomorrow

elle part demain

you are to wait here

vous devez attendre ici

we are to meet at seven

on est censé se rencontrer à sept heures

5. be (expresses future in past):

she was never to see her brother again

elle n'allait jamais plus revoir son frère

6. be (in conditionals):

if sb were [or was] were to +infin, ...

si qn devait +infin , ...

if he were to work harder, he'd get better grades

s'il travaillait plus, il aurait de meilleures notes

were sb to +infin, ... form

si qn devait +infin , ...

we're [wɪəʳ, Am wɪr]

we're = we are, be

See also be

I.be <was, been> [bi:] VB intr + adj or n

1. be (expresses identity, position, place):

he's be English/a dentist

il est anglais/dentiste

it's a key

c'est une clef

to be in Spain

être en Espagne

the statues are in the Louvre

les statues se trouvent au Louvre

2. be (expresses a state, situation):

I'm cold/hungry

j'ai froid/faim

my hands are cold

j'ai froid aux mains

how are you? — I'm fine

comment vas-tu/allez-vous? — je vais bien

be quiet!

reste(z) tranquille!

to be on a diet

faire un régime

to be on the pill

prendre la pilule

to be on benefit [or welfare Am]

toucher des allocations

3. be (expresses calculation/price):

two and two is four

deux et deux font quatre

this book is 50p

ce livre fait 50 pence

4. be (indicates age):

how old is he? — he's twenty

quel âge a-t-il? — il a vingt ans

5. be (take place):

the meeting is next Tuesday

la réunion a lieu mardi prochain

6. be (exist):

there is/are ...

il y a ...

let her be!

laisse-la tranquille!

7. be (impersonal use):

what is it?

qu'est-ce que c'est?

it's three

il est trois heures

it's cold/windy

il fait froid/du vent

it's rainy

il pleut

it's fair

c'est juste

what's it to be?

ce sera?

as it were

pour ainsi dire

Phrases:

the be-all and end-all

le but suprême

be that as it may

malgré cela

so be it

soit

far be it from sb to +infin

loin de qn l'idée de +infin

II.be <was, been> [bi:] VB aux

1. be (expresses continuation):

he's breathing

il respire

she's still sleeping

elle est encore en train de dormir

it's raining

il pleut

2. be (expresses possibility):

can it be that ...? form

est-ce possible que +subj ?

the exhibition is to be seen at the gallery

on peut voir l'exposition à la galerie

what is he to do?

qu'est-il censé faire?

may I be of service?

je peux vous aider?

3. be (expresses passive):

to be discovered by sb

être découvert par qn

to be left speechless

rester bouche bée

I'm asked to come at seven

on me demande de venir à sept heures

4. be (expresses future):

she's leaving tomorrow

elle part demain

you are to wait here

vous devez attendre ici

we are to meet at seven

on est censé se rencontrer à sept heures

5. be (expresses future in past):

she was never to see her brother again

elle n'allait jamais plus revoir son frère

6. be (in conditionals):

if sb were [or was] were to +infin, ...

si qn devait +infin , ...

if he were to work harder, he'd get better grades

s'il travaillait plus, il aurait de meilleures notes

were sb to +infin, ... form

si qn devait +infin , ...

I.be <was, been> [bi:] VB intr + adj or n

1. be (expresses identity, position, place):

he's be English/a dentist

il est anglais/dentiste

it's a key

c'est une clef

to be in Spain

être en Espagne

the statues are in the Louvre

les statues se trouvent au Louvre

2. be (expresses a state, situation):

I'm cold/hungry

j'ai froid/faim

my hands are cold

j'ai froid aux mains

how are you? — I'm fine

comment vas-tu/allez-vous? — je vais bien

be quiet!

reste(z) tranquille!

to be on a diet

faire un régime

to be on the pill

prendre la pilule

to be on benefit [or welfare Am]

toucher des allocations

3. be (expresses calculation/price):

two and two is four

deux et deux font quatre

this book is 50p

ce livre fait 50 pence

4. be (indicates age):

how old is he? — he's twenty

quel âge a-t-il? — il a vingt ans

5. be (take place):

the meeting is next Tuesday

la réunion a lieu mardi prochain

6. be (exist):

there is/are ...

il y a ...

let her be!

laisse-la tranquille!

7. be (impersonal use):

what is it?

qu'est-ce que c'est?

it's three

il est trois heures

it's cold/windy

il fait froid/du vent

it's rainy

il pleut

it's fair

c'est juste

what's it to be?

ce sera?

as it were

pour ainsi dire

Phrases:

the be-all and end-all

le but suprême

be that as it may

malgré cela

so be it

soit

far be it from sb to +infin

loin de qn l'idée de +infin

II.be <was, been> [bi:] VB aux

1. be (expresses continuation):

he's breathing

il respire

she's still sleeping

elle est encore en train de dormir

it's raining

il pleut

2. be (expresses possibility):

can it be that ...? form

est-ce possible que +subj ?

the exhibition is to be seen at the gallery

on peut voir l'exposition à la galerie

what is he to do?

qu'est-il censé faire?

may I be of service?

je peux vous aider?

3. be (expresses passive):

to be discovered by sb

être découvert par qn

to be left speechless

rester bouche bée

I'm asked to come at seven

on me demande de venir à sept heures

4. be (expresses future):

she's leaving tomorrow

elle part demain

you are to wait here

vous devez attendre ici

we are to meet at seven

on est censé se rencontrer à sept heures

5. be (expresses future in past):

she was never to see her brother again

elle n'allait jamais plus revoir son frère

6. be (in conditionals):

if sb were [or was] were to +infin, ...

si qn devait +infin , ...

if he were to work harder, he'd get better grades

s'il travaillait plus, il aurait de meilleures notes

were sb to +infin, ... form

si qn devait +infin , ...

See also off

I.off [ɒf, Am ɑ:f] PREP

1. off (apart from):

to be one metre off sb/sth

être à un mètre de qn/qc

the top is off the jar

le couvercle n'est pas sur le bocal

off the point

hors de propos

off Dover

au large de Douvres

the mill is off the road

le moulin est à l'écart de la route

2. off (away from):

her street is off the avenue

sa rue part de l'avenue

to take sth off the shelf/wall

prendre qc sur l'étagère/enlever qc du mur

keep off the grass

pelouse interdite

to go off the air RADIO

quitter l'antenne

3. off (down from):

to fall/jump off a ladder

tomber/sauter d'une échelle

to get off the train

descendre du train

4. off (from):

to eat off a plate

manger dans une assiette

to wipe the water off the bench

essuyer l'eau du banc

to cut a piece off this cheese

couper un morceau de ce fromage

to take £10 off the price

faire une réduction de 10£

to borrow money off sb inf

emprunter de l'argent à qn

5. off (stop liking):

to go off sb/sth

cesser d'aimer qn/qc

to be off drugs

être désintoxiqué

II.off [ɒf, Am ɑ:f] ADV

1. off (not on):

to switch/turn sth off

éteindre/arrêter qc

it's off between them fig

c'est fini entre eux

2. off (away):

the town is 8 km off

la ville est à 8 km

not far/some way off

pas très loin/à quelque distance

to go/run off

partir/partir en courant

it's time I was off

il est temps que je m'en aille subj

we're off on Tuesday

nous ne sommes pas là jeudi

to be off SPORTS

avoir pris le départ

3. off (removed):

there's a button off

il manque un bouton

the lid's off

le couvercle n'est pas dessus

with one's coat off

sans manteau

4. off (free from work):

to get off at 4:00

sortir du travail à 4 h

to get a day off

avoir un jour de congé

to take time/an afternoon off

prendre du temps/un après-midi de libre

5. off (completely):

to kill off

anéantir

to pay sth off

finir de payer qc

6. off COMM:

5% off

5% de rabais

7. off (until gone):

to walk off the dinner

faire une promenade digestive

to sleep off the wine

cuver son vin

to work off the calories

brûler les calories

Phrases:

straight [or right] off

tout de suite

off and on [or on and off]

de temps en temps

it rained off and on

il pleuvait par intermittence

III.off [ɒf, Am ɑ:f] ADJ inv

1. off (not on):

off light

éteint(e)

off tap

fermé(e)

off water, electricity

coupé(e)

off concert

annulé(e)

off engagement

rompu(e)

2. off (bad):

off day

mauvais(e)

off milk

tourné(e)

off food

avarié(e)

3. off (free from work):

to be off at 5 o'clock

terminer à 5 h

I'm off on Mondays

je ne suis pas là le lundi

4. off Aus, Brit (provided for):

to be badly off

être dans la gêne

to be well/badly off for sth

être bien pourvu en/à court de qc

5. off (sold out):

veal is off now

il n'y a plus de veau

6. off Brit (rude):

that's a bit off!

c'est plutôt dur à avaler!

to go off on sb Am inf

engueuler qn

IV.off [ɒf, Am ɑ:f] N no pl Brit

off

départ m

V.off [ɒf, Am ɑ:f] VB trans Am inf (kill)

off

buter

to-be [təˈbi:] ADJ

to-be

futur(e)

a bride-to-be

une future mariée

a mother-to-be

une future maman

would-be [ˈwʊdbi] ADJ

would-be

soi-disant(e)

meanie [mi:ni] N inf to be a meanie

1. meanie (miserly person):

to be a meanie

être mesquin

2. meanie (unkind person):

to be a meanie

être vache

to be vested with

User Entry

to be vested with

être investi de

to be done to a turn VB

User Entry

to be done to a turn (cooked for the right amount of time) old

parfait, à point

Translations for were in the French»English Dictionary

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

des vitres étaient couvertes de buée

the windows were misted up

le cœur leur battait fort

their hearts were beating fast

were Examples from the PONS Dictionary (editorially verified)

we were told by the police that ...

la police nous a dit que ...

you were unlucky enough to fall ill

tu as eu la malchance de tomber malade

there were hundreds of children, all singing

il y avait des centaines d'enfants, tous chantaient

if sb were [or was] were to +infin, ...

si qn devait +infin , ...

you were mean to be here

tu étais supposé être là

she was angry as we all were

elle était en colère comme nous tous

you didn't know how right you were

tu ne croyais pas croire si bien dire

onlookers were standing around the injured man

des curieux encerclaient le blessé

the kids were up to something here

ça c'est un coup des enfants

the sounds we could hear were muffled

les bruits nous arrivent ouatés

were Glossary « Intégration et égalité des chances » courtesy of the French-German Youth Office

Translations for were in the French»English Dictionary

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

être marginalisé

be marginalised

être relogé

to be rehoused

être dans la galère

be in a mess

se faire racketter

to be ripped off fam

avoir une double culture

to be at home in two cultures

être radié (chômage)

to be struck off the unemployment register and no longer receive benefits

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

English

The endurance squad were able to turn the flying start to their advantage and took a clean victory over the sprinters.

en.wikipedia.org

They were only in production for two years, from 1907 to 1909.

en.wikipedia.org

Teachers were often absent from class and moonlighting to make up for poor pay.

en.wikipedia.org

All teams present were instructed to pair off, with one team from each pair going to each destination.

en.wikipedia.org

Nevertheless, to meet the requirement of new rolling stock, three new production workshops were set up.

en.wikipedia.org

Only a small fraction of the 685 children treated were diagnosed with photosensitive epilepsy.

en.wikipedia.org

Without an education women were unable to gain much knowledge or power.

en.wikipedia.org

There were two compartments, both with four-abreast seating, with reversible seats.

en.wikipedia.org

Soon his scurrilous tongue and subversive speeches were getting him into trouble.

en.wikipedia.org

During construction of the tunnels, a number of railways were employed to convey spoil from worksites and to deliver personnel, concrete and equipment throughout.

en.wikipedia.org