Please explain the expression

Tom G.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Please explain the expression

Hi,

In the last sentence, j'ai hâte de pouvoir à nouveau la serrer dans mes bras, is the translation given.

Please explain the expression, J'ai hâte de. It's hard to see how it can be translated as, I can't wait to.

Thanks


Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Tom,

Attendre avec impatience and avoir hâte que are very similar in meaning and convey when you can't wait for something to happen -

J'ai hâte que confinement se termine !

J'attends la fin du confinement avec impatience

 = you can't wait for the lockdown to end

The idea of looking forward to something is always tricky to translate into French you might also use -

se réjouir d'avance 

avoir hâte de 

J'ai hâte de le voir 

Je me réjouis d'avance de sa visite 

meaning that you can't wait to see him, that you are really looking forward to his visit.

Hope this helps!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Tom,

J'ai hâte de

How about "I look forward to" or J'attends avec impatience

Hope it helps.

Jim

Daniel M.A1Kwiziq community member

You appear to be looking for an explanation as to why "j'ai hâte de..." translates to "I can't wait to...", so look no further than the translation of hâte itself: haste. So you can see how the phrase (translated literally) "I have haste to..." works!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

My French stepdaughter-in-law once wrote to us  "Il me tarde de vous revoir" when she was expressing "looking forward to seeing us again"

All very interesting Cécile.

Jim

Tom G. asked:

Please explain the expression

Hi,

In the last sentence, j'ai hâte de pouvoir à nouveau la serrer dans mes bras, is the translation given.

Please explain the expression, J'ai hâte de. It's hard to see how it can be translated as, I can't wait to.

Thanks


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