First, weâll see what common constructions we use to make New Yearâs resolutions in French. Then Iâll tell you why we say âle nouvel anâ and weâll study some typical French resolutions.
How To Make New Yearâs Resolutions in French?
Making New Yearâs Resolution is also a typical French habit for Le Nouvel An.
Itâs likely youâll be using constructions such as:
- Je vais + infinitiveâŠ
I am going to - Jâai lâintention de + infinitiveâŠ
I intend to - Je vais essayer de + infinitiveâŠ
I am going to try to - Je veux + infinitiveâŠ
I want to - Je dois + infinitiveâŠ
I must - Il faut que je + subjunctiveâŠ
I must
Now letâs see these constructions used in sentences.
8 New Yearâs Resolutions in French
Typical French New Yearâs Resolutions include:
- Je vais arrĂȘter de fumer
Iâll quit smoking. - Jâai lâintention de perdre du poids. Je vais faire un rĂ©gime.
I intend to lose some weight. Iâll go on a diet. - Je dois essayer de faire plus de sport.
I must try to do more sport. - Je veux passer plus de temps avec ma famille / mes amis.
Iâm going to spend more time with my family / my friends. - Il faut que jâĂ©conomise de lâargent.
I must save money. - Je voudrais faire un voyage.
I would like to take a trip. Review your French prepositions of places and countries here. - Jâai lâintention dâĂ©tudier quelque chose de nouveau.
I intend to study something new. - Je vais faire plus attention à ma santé : boire moins, manger sainement.
Iâll be more careful about my health: drink less (alcohol), eat healthy.
Why Is-It âLe Nouvel Anâ For âNew Yearâ?
Le Nouvel An or La Nouvelle Année ?
Why do we say in French âle nouvel anâ and not âla nouvelle annĂ©eâ?
Both are possible, although for âNew Yearâ, âle Nouvel Anâ is much more common. âAnâ is usually used with a number, when saying your age or counting years. For example:
- Jâai 44 ans.
Iâm 44. - Je suis allĂ©e en France il y a deux ans.
I went to France 2 years ago.
âAnnĂ©eâ is used to describe the whole year span, and is mostly used in expressions such as âlâannĂ©e derniĂšre / prochaineâ (last year/ next year), âtoute lâannĂ©eâ (all year long).
Contrast:
- Je vais en France tous les ans
Iâm going to France every year. - Jâai Ă©tudiĂ© le passĂ©-composĂ© toute lâannĂ©e
I spent the whole year studying passé-composé.
So, for the expressions using an / annĂ©e, itâs mostly a question of memorizing them. âLe Nouvel Anâ falls into this last category.
Hereâs an article which explains how to say year in French (an vs. annĂ©e) with many examples.
Why Nouvel An And Not Nouveau An?
Nouveau is a weird French adjective.
Not only does it go before the noun, but it has what I call a âmutantâ form.
So, you have the typical feminine / masculine / plural adjective agreements.
- Un nouveau travail.
A new job. - Cinq nouveaux amis.
Five new Friends. - Une nouvelle équipe.
A new team. - Deux nouvelles chaussures.
Two new shoes.
But you also have a mutant form, especially for masculine nouns starting with a vowel = nouvel.
Itâs pronounced just like the feminine form, and the L glides over to the next word.
- Le nouvel an
New Year - Un nouvel enfant
a new child - Un nouvel ami
a new friend - Un nouvel appartement
a new apartment - Un nouvel emploi â
a new job
Master French adjectives and their tricky pronunciation with my audio lesson.
How To Better Your French This Year?
If you are reading this article, chances are that you are studying French. I suggest you check out my article 12 tips to learn French efficiently, Iâm sure it will help you come up with a plan to improve your French.
One big factor about learning a language is convenience. Most of us are short on time, so itâs good to find solutions that help you study as you are multitasking: check out French Todayâs French audiobooks to study French at the gym, commuting to work, or from home.
If what you are looking for is one on one lesson, check out our French lessons by Skype â learn French from work, or at home in you pyjamas !!

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.
Et Vous ? Quelles Sont vos Résolutions Pour le Nouvel an ?
Moi, câest de recommencer Ă dessiner, voyager plus, continuer Ă faire du sport rĂ©guliĂšrement, et dâĂ©crire plus dâarticles pour le blog de French Today !
If you liked this article, you may enjoy How the French Celebrate New Year + French Vocabulary.
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