"Autant vous dire que je suis restée sans voix..."

Jeuri M.C1Kwiziq community member

"Autant vous dire que je suis restée sans voix..."

Would "Je pourrais aussi bien" or "Je ferais aussi bien de" work here in the place of "Autant"? Is there a difference in meaning or register between Autant and those phrases, or situations where one would work and not the other? Thanks.

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Jeuri,

The expression is -

J'aime autant vous dire = Let me tell you /You won't be surprised to hear / And I don't mind telling you

which is shortened to 'autant vous dire' 

It is not always easy to translate into English as Chris says it is idiomatic and that's the way we would express the English it translates.

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Autant vous dire que... is a very nice way of putting it in French. I think it belongs to a higher register than the possibilities you suggest.

"Autant vous dire que je suis restée sans voix..."

Would "Je pourrais aussi bien" or "Je ferais aussi bien de" work here in the place of "Autant"? Is there a difference in meaning or register between Autant and those phrases, or situations where one would work and not the other? Thanks.

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