Common French Word: Comme

The French word comme can be a conjunction, adverb, or part of an adverbial phrase and is one of the most common French words and is used in a number of common expressions.

Comme As a conjunction

Comme is a French subordinating conjunction meaning "as" or "since":

• Il est arrivé comme je commençais à manger. Translation: He arrived as I was starting to eat.
• Comme il n'est pas là, je vais le faire. Translation: Since he's not here, I'm going to do it.

Comme is commonly used in comparisons to mean "like" or "as":

• Pensent-ils comme nous? Translation: Do they think like/as we do?
• C'est une excuse comme une autre. Translation: It's as good an excuse as any.

Comme As an Exclamative Adverb

As an exclamative adverb, comme means "how" or "so":

• Comme tu es grand! Translation: You're so tall!
• Comme il fait beau! Translation: How beautiful the weather is!

Comme Plus an Adjective

Comme plus an adjective means that something/someone seems to be that adjective:

• Il était comme fou. Translation: He was acting crazy.
• Elle est comme désorientée. Translation: She seems bewildered.

Comme Tout

Comme tout plus an adjective means "so (adjective)" or "as (adjective) as can be":

• C'est facile comme tout. Translation: It's as easy as can be.
• Il est sympa comme tout. Translation: He's so nice.

Comme Si

Comme si means "as if" or "as though":

• Il m'a parlé comme si rien ne s'était passé. Translation: He talked to me as if nothing had happened.
• Ce n'est pas comme si je suis riche! Translation: It's not as though I'm rich!