faible/fɛbl/
adjective / noun · A2 · Frequency 1428
adjective
Meanings
weak
Can describe physical condition, strength, or ability as weak.
low, small (amount, degree, percentage)
Used to indicate a low amount, degree, or percentage.
Examples
Après sa maladie, son bras droit est encore faible.
After his illness, his right arm is still weak.
Le signal est trop faible pour permettre une conversation correcte.
The signal is too weak to allow a proper conversation.
Le taux de participation est faible dans ce quartier.
The participation rate is low in this neighborhood.
Collocations
- un point faiblea weak point
- à faible coûtat low cost
Common mistakes
faible
faible (adj.)
Learners may mistakenly use faible as a noun or adverb, but it is an adjective.
Related words
nounmasculine
Meanings
weakness, soft spot (for someone/something)
Refers to a person's weakness or fondness for someone or something.
weakling, weak person
Refers to a person who is physically or characteristically weak.
Examples
La patience est mon faible quand je travaille avec des enfants.
Patience is my weakness when I work with children.
Il a un faible pour les vieux livres de cuisine.
He has a soft spot for old cookbooks.
Dans cette équipe, le faible reçoit toujours le soutien des autres.
In this team, the weak person always receives support from the others.
Collocations
- avoir un faible pour quelqu’unto have a soft spot for someone
- un faible sans défensea defenseless weakling
Common mistakes
Il a un faible de quelqu’un.
Il a un faible pour quelqu’un.
The noun faible means a soft spot or fondness here and is used in the fixed construction avoir un faible pour, not avoir un faible de.
Related words
synonympoint faibleweak point
synonymdouceursoftness, fondness
antonymforcestrength
adjective
Meanings
weak
Can describe physical condition, strength, or ability as weak.
low, small (amount, degree, percentage)
Used to indicate a low amount, degree, or percentage.
Examples
Après l'effort, mes jambes restent faibles.
After the effort, my legs remain weak.
Les signaux sont trop faibles pour être captés correctement.
The signals are too weak to be received properly.
Les faibles ventes du mois ont inquiété la direction.
The low sales for the month worried management.
adjective
Meanings
weak
Can describe physical condition, strength, or ability as weak.
low, small (amount, degree, percentage)
Used to indicate a low amount, degree, or percentage.
Examples
Après sa maladie, son bras droit est encore faible.
After his illness, his right arm is still weak.
Le signal est trop faible pour permettre une conversation correcte.
The signal is too weak to allow a proper conversation.
Le taux de participation est faible dans ce quartier.
The participation rate is low in this neighborhood.
nounmasculine
Meanings
weakness, soft spot (for someone/something)
Refers to a person's weakness or fondness for someone or something.
weakling, weak person
Refers to a person who is physically or characteristically weak.
Examples
Les faibles de cette équipe ont besoin d'un accompagnement supplémentaire.
The weak people on this team need additional support.
Dans cette compétition, les faibles sont éliminés dès la première étape.
In this competition, the weak are eliminated in the first round.
Une société juste doit protéger les faibles sans humilier les autres.
A fair society must protect the weak without humiliating others.