avoir beau

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /a.vwaʁ bo/

Verb

avoir beau

  1. whatever, no matter what (even though) someone does/says, etc.
    • 1961, Jacques Brel (lyrics), “Le Prochain Amour”, in Marieke:
      On a beau faire on a beau dire / Ça fait du bien d'être amoureux / Je sais je sais que ce prochain amour / Sera pour moi la prochaine défaite
      (please add an English translation of this quote)
    on a beau faire ― whatever you do; no matter what one does
    on a beau protester ― however much you protest
    il a eu beau essayer ― try as he might
    On a beau dire, il n'est pas bête. ― Say what you like, he's not stupid.

Usage notes

Followed by an infinitive expressing the verb "do", "say", etc.

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