You might know that "penser" is the most common way to say "to think" in French. But did you know there are many other nuanced and interesting ways to express this fundamental concept?

As you delve deeper into the French language, you'll find that having a variety of words for "to think" can greatly enrich your conversations and understanding.

Let's explore 9 different ways to say "to think" in French, each with its own specific context and flavor!

1. The most common and direct 'to think' – penser

The most common and direct 'to think' – penser

The verb penser is the most fundamental and widely used French verb meaning 'to think'.

Penser is a regular -ER verb, making its conjugation straightforward. For example, in the present tense, it follows the standard pattern: je pense, tu penses, il/elle/on pense, nous pensons, vous pensez, ils/elles pensent.

When you want to express 'to think of' or 'to think about' something or someone, you'll use penser à. This often implies recollection, consideration, or having someone/something on your mind.

To express an opinion, a belief, or to state what you 'think that' something is, use penser que followed by a clause. This structure is common for sharing thoughts or judgments.

When asking for or giving an opinion 'of' something, the construction penser de is used. It's often seen in questions like 'Que penses-tu de...?' (What do you think of...?)

Understanding the right preposition is key. For instance, Je pense à toi means 'I'm thinking of you,' conveying affection or memory. In contrast, Je pense que c'est une bonne idée means 'I think that's a good idea,' expressing an opinion. And Que penses-tu de ce film? asks 'What do you think of this film?'

A common idiomatic expression is penser à voix haute (to think aloud). You might also hear Sans y penser (without thinking about it) or Y penser à deux fois (to think twice).

Penser is highly versatile and can be used in almost any context, from casual conversation to formal writing. It's your go-to verb for expressing thoughts, opinions, and recollections.

Mastering penser and its associated prepositions (à, que, de) will significantly enhance your ability to express nuanced thoughts and opinions in French. Pay attention to the context to choose the correct construction.

💡 * Je pense à mes vacances. (I'm thinking about my vacation.)

• Elle pense que c'est important. (She thinks that it's important.)
• Que penses-tu de cette nouvelle? (What do you think of this news?)
• Nous pensons souvent à notre famille. (We often think of our family.)
• Il pense à voix haute. (He thinks aloud.)

To 'reflect' or 'ponder' deeply – réfléchir

To 'reflect' or 'ponder' deeply – réfléchir

The French verb réfléchir primarily means 'to reflect,' 'to think deeply,' or 'to ponder.' It signifies a more profound and deliberate mental process than simply 'to think'.

When réfléchir means 'to think about' or 'to ponder something,' it is typically followed by the preposition à. For example, réfléchir à un problème means 'to reflect on a problem' or 'to think about a problem deeply'.

This verb is frequently employed when someone is considering options or making a significant decision. You might hear Je dois y réfléchir ('I need to think about it') when someone needs time to ponder before giving an answer.

While penser means 'to think' in a general sense, réfléchir implies a more analytical, meditative, or thorough consideration. Think of penser as 'to have a thought' and réfléchir as 'to process thoughts thoroughly'.

Beyond mental processing, réfléchir can also refer to the physical act of light or sound 'reflecting' off a surface. For instance, La lumière réfléchit sur le miroir ('The light reflects on the mirror').

💡 * Il doit réfléchir à sa décision avant d'agir. (He must reflect on his decision before acting.)

• Elle a passé la nuit à réfléchir à la proposition. (She spent the night pondering the proposal.)
• Nous devons réfléchir ensemble à une solution. (We need to think together about a solution.)
• Réfléchis bien avant de répondre. (Think carefully before answering.)
• La surface de l'eau réfléchit les étoiles. (The surface of the water reflects the stars.)

To 'believe' or 'opine' – croire

The French verb croire is a fundamental verb that translates most commonly to 'to believe' in English. However, its usage extends beyond mere belief, often encompassing the idea of 'to think' or 'to opine' in certain contexts.

While its primary translation is 'to believe,' croire can also mean 'to think' or 'to suppose,' especially when expressing an opinion or an assumption. This makes it a versatile verb for expressing personal conviction or less certain thoughts.

When you want to say you 'believe that' something is true, croire is typically followed by que (or qu' before a vowel). This construction is used for expressing belief in a fact, an idea, or a statement.

To express belief in something or someone, such as faith in a religion, a person, or an idea's existence, croire is followed by the preposition en. This signifies a deeper trust or conviction.

Croire is an irregular verb, so its conjugations will need to be learned. In the present tense, for example, it conjugates as je crois, tu crois, il/elle/on croit, nous croyons, vous croyez, ils/elles croient.

While croire can mean 'to think,' it often carries a stronger sense of belief or conviction than penser ('to think' or 'to ponder'). Penser is generally used for more neutral thoughts or opinions, whereas croire implies accepting something as true.

💡 * Je crois que c'est vrai. (I believe that it's true.)

• Elle croit en Dieu. (She believes in God.)
• Nous croyons en toi. (We believe in you.)
• Vous croyez qu'il va pleuvoir ? (Do you think it's going to rain?)
• Ils croient aux fantômes. (They believe in ghosts.)

To 'estimate' or 'consider' – estimer

The French verb estimer primarily translates to 'to estimate' or 'to consider' in English. It's a regular -ER verb, making its conjugation relatively straightforward.

One of the most common uses of estimer is to talk about estimating a quantity, value, or duration. It implies making an educated guess or approximation rather than stating an exact figure.

Estimer can also mean 'to consider' or 'to judge' something or someone to be of a certain quality or value. In this sense, it often expresses an opinion or a valuation.

When used to 'consider' or 'judge', estimer is often followed by a direct object and an adjective, or by a clause introduced by que (that) or comme (as).

💡 * J'estime le coût à environ 50 euros. (I estimate the cost at around 50 euros.)

• Nous estimons qu'il est important d'agir vite. (We consider it important to act quickly.)
• Il estime son travail à sa juste valeur. (He values his work at its true worth.)
• Elle est estimée de tous. (She is respected by everyone.)
• J'estime que tu as raison. (I consider that you are right.)

To 'consider' or 'take into account' – considérer

The French verb considérer primarily means 'to consider,' 'to take into account,' or 'to regard.' It implies a mental process of evaluation or reflection.

It's frequently used when you want to express an opinion, reflect on something, or think deeply about a subject. For example, 'Je considère que c'est important' (I consider that it's important).

You can also use considérer to indicate that you are taking something into account or factoring it in when making a decision or judgment. This is crucial for comprehensive analysis.

Another common usage is 'to regard as' or 'to view as,' often followed by 'comme' (as). For instance, 'Il considère ce livre comme un chef-d'œuvre' (He considers this book a masterpiece).

Considérer is often followed by a direct object, or by 'que' + a clause (meaning 'to consider that...'), or 'comme' + a noun/adjective to express how something is regarded.

This is a standard, versatile verb suitable for a wide range of contexts, from everyday conversation to formal academic or professional discourse, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

💡 * Je considère que ton point de vue est très pertinent. (I consider that your point of view is very relevant.)

• Il faut considérer le temps et les ressources nécessaires pour ce projet. (One must take into account the time and resources needed for this project.)
• Nous considérons cette proposition avec beaucoup d'intérêt. (We are considering this proposal with great interest.)
• Elle me considère comme une amie proche. (She considers me a close friend.)
• Considérez les conséquences avant d'agir. (Consider the consequences before acting.)

To 'imagine' or 'conceive' mentally – imaginer

The verb imaginer in French directly translates to 'to imagine' or 'to conceive mentally' in English. It's a fundamental verb for expressing mental creation or contemplation.

At its core, imaginer refers to forming a mental image or idea, whether real or hypothetical. It can also mean 'to suppose' or 'to guess' in certain contexts, much like its English counterpart.

Imaginer is frequently followed by que (that) when introducing a clause, or by de + infinitive when expressing the imagination of an action. For example, "J'imagine que tu es fatigué" (I imagine that you are tired) or "J'imagine de voyager" (I imagine traveling).

As a regular -er verb, imaginer follows standard conjugation patterns, making it relatively easy to learn for beginners. Remember to drop the -er and add the appropriate endings for each tense and subject pronoun.

While imaginer focuses on mental conception, it's distinct from rêver ('to dream'), which specifically refers to dreaming during sleep or having aspirations. Imaginer is more about active mental processing.

💡 *Je ne peux pas imaginer ma vie sans musique. (I can't imagine my life without music.)
*Elle a imaginé un monde meilleur. (She imagined a better world.)
*Imagine que tu gagnes à la loterie ! (Imagine you win the lottery!)
*Nous avons imaginé de nouvelles solutions. (We imagined new solutions.)
*Pouvez-vous imaginer la scène ? (Can you imagine the scene?)

To 'conceive' or 'design' an idea – concevoir

The French verb concevoir directly translates to 'to conceive' or 'to design' in English. It primarily refers to forming an idea, a project, or a plan in one's mind.

Unlike simply 'thinking' (penser) or 'creating' (créer), concevoir implies a more structured, creative, and often intentional process of bringing something into existence, whether it's an abstract concept or a concrete design. It's about originating an idea or a framework.

You'll frequently encounter concevoir when discussing the initial creation or planning phase of products, architectural designs, artistic works, or even complex theories. It emphasizes the intellectual act of devising something new. For example, 'concevoir un produit' means 'to design a product'.

💡 *Elle a conçu un nouveau plan marketing. (She designed a new marketing plan.)
*Il est difficile de concevoir un monde sans internet. (It's difficult to conceive of a world without internet.)
*L'architecte a conçu ce bâtiment innovant. (The architect designed this innovative building.)
*Comment concevez-vous votre avenir ? (How do you envision/conceive your future?)

To 'muse' or 'dream' about – songer

The French verb songer translates most closely to 'to muse' or 'to dream about'. It implies a more thoughtful or contemplative process than simply 'to dream' in the sleep sense.

Often, songer is followed by the preposition à when referring to what one is musing or dreaming about. For instance, songer à l'avenir means 'to dream about the future' or 'to ponder the future'.

While rêver is primarily used for dreams during sleep, songer is typically reserved for waking thoughts, daydreams, or deep contemplation. Think of it as 'to reflect on' or 'to ponder deeply'.

Songer is a regular -ER verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. For example, je songe, tu songes, il/elle/on songe, nous songeons, vous songez, ils/elles songent.

💡 *Je songe souvent à mon enfance. (I often muse about my childhood.)
*Il songeait à une solution pour son problème. (He was pondering a solution for his problem.)
*Nous songeons à partir en vacances cet été. (We are contemplating going on vacation this summer.)
*Elle songe à sa carrière future. (She is musing about her future career.)

To 'meditate' or 'contemplate' – méditer

The verb méditer in French directly translates to 'to meditate' or 'to contemplate' in English. It's used when referring to practices of mental focus, deep thought, or quiet reflection.

While commonly associated with spiritual or mindfulness practices, méditer also conveys the idea of reflecting deeply on something, pondering, or thinking intensely about a plan or idea. It implies a sustained and profound mental engagement.

Méditer is a regular -er verb, meaning its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. This makes it relatively easy to learn and use in various tenses.

You'll often hear méditer in contexts like 'méditer sur l'avenir' (to contemplate the future), 'méditer une décision' (to ponder a decision), or 'méditer en silence' (to meditate in silence). It suggests a deliberate and often solitary mental process.

The key nuance of méditer is the intention and depth of thought. It's not just casual thinking but a more focused and often prolonged mental activity, whether for spiritual insight or careful planning.

💡 * Elle aime méditer chaque matin pour commencer sa journée. (She likes to meditate every morning to start her day.)

• Il a médité longuement sur sa décision avant de répondre. (He contemplated his decision for a long time before answering.)
• Nous devons méditer sur les conséquences de nos actions. (We must reflect on the consequences of our actions.)
• Le moine médite dans le temple. (The monk meditates in the temple.)
• J'ai médité un plan pour le projet. (I contemplated/devised a plan for the project.)

Are there other ways to say 'to think' in French?

Are there other ways to say "to think" in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say "to think" in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire penser en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for penser on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about thinking.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of thoughts, or words about the act of thinking in French, the WordReference entry for penser is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is a perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Honoré de Balzac: La pensée est le travail de l'intelligence. (Thought is the work of intelligence.)