“Aimer à mort” is a song by French singer Louane. It appears on her 2020 album Joie de vivre. This week it is number 6 on the French radio hits chart, down from number 5 last week. It peaked at number 90 on the French singles chart.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

infinitive – The French infinitive is generally thought to translate as ‘to [verb]’ in English. However, there are times that the English gerund ‘[verb]ing’ provides a better translation. I chose to use the latter for the many infinitives in this song.

‘perdre du temps’ – Literally translating as ‘to lose time’, this phrase means ‘to waste time’.

‘avoir peur’ – This is aother of the many phrases that uses ‘avoir’ in French. Meaning ‘to be afraid’, it translates literally as ‘to have fear’.

‘s’endormir’ – The verb ‘endormir’ means ‘to lull to sleep’ or ‘to put to sleep’ as one would do with a baby. When reflexive this verb means ‘to fall asleep’ or ‘to go to sleep’.

‘perdre le fil’ – Literally translating as ‘to lose the thread/string’ or ‘to lose the wire/cable’, this phrase means ‘to lose track’.

‘avoir tort’ – This is one of the many phrases that uses ‘avoir’ in French. Meaning ‘to be wrong’, it translates literally as ‘to have wrong’.

‘s’éveiller’ – The verb ‘éveiller’ means ‘to wake up’ or ‘to awaken’ in the sense of waking up someone else. When reflexive it means ‘to wake up’ or ‘to awaken’ in the sense of someone waking up on their own.

‘face à’ – Literally translating as ‘face to’, this phrase means either ‘facing’ or ‘in front of’ regarding position, or, less literally, it means ‘faced with’.

‘se reprendre’ – The verb ‘reprendre’ has numerous meanings, the most common being ‘to take back’. The pronominal version ‘se reprendre’ means ‘to pull oneself together’, ‘to get a grip on oneself’, ‘to get back on one’s feet’ or ‘to correct oneself’.

‘se défendre’ – The verb ‘défendre’ means ‘to defend’, ‘to protect’, ‘to support’, ‘to stand up for’ or ‘to forbid’. The reflexive version ‘se défendre’ means ‘to protect/defend oneself’ or ‘to hold one’s own’.

‘se toucher’ and ‘se comprendre’ – Reflexive pronouns reflect that an action is being performed on oneself. For example ‘je me leve’ means ‘I get (myself) up’ or ‘il se brosse les dents’ means ‘he brushes (his own) teeth’. However, they can also have a reciprocal meaning of ‘each other’. For example ‘on se parle’ means ‘we are speaking to each other’, or the examples in this song ‘se quitter’ meaning ‘to leave each other’.

Activities

We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mortmortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing

[Verse 1]
Avanceravancerto move, go forward, keep moving; make progress | verb, spl chg | infin droit,droitstraight; in a straight line | adv perdreperdreto lose | verb, reg | infin | perdre du temps = waste time sonsonhis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | masc sing tempstempstime | noun | masc sing | perdre du temps = waste time
Avoiravoirto have | verb, irreg | infin | avoir peur = to be afraid peurpeurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid dedeof; from | prep soi,soiself, himself, herself, yourself, itself | pron ououor | conj peurpeurfear | noun | fem sing desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl gensgenspeople | noun | masc pl | no sing form
C’cethis, that, it | pron | indef dem | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres sisiif | conj facilefacileeasy, simple, effortless | adj | masc and fem sing quandquandwhen | adv, conj ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we' s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsendortendormirlull to sleep, put to sleep | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | s'endormir = to fall asleep, go to sleep
Perdreperdreto lose | verb, reg | infin | perdre le fil = to lose track lelethe | art, def | masc sing fil,filthread, string; wire, cable | noun | masc sing | perdre le fil = to lose track sanssanswithout | prep leslesthe | art, def | masc and fem pl accordsaccordagreement; permission, consent; harmony, match, fit; understanding, rapport; (musical) chord | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep respirerrespirerto breathe, inhale; ooze, display, exude | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv quandquandwhen | adv, conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir tort = to be wrong tort,tortwrong | noun | masc sing | avoir tort = to be wrong jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsarrêtearrêterto stop | verb, reg | first pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in coll speech
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex touchertoucherto touch, feel; to reach; to touch, move, affect deeply | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv sisiif | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir peur = to be afraid peur,peurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelscroiscroireto believe, think | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres enento, in | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj etetand | conj moimoime, to me | pron | first pers sing, disj

[Verse 2]
Arrêterarrêterto stop | verb, reg | infin leslesthe | art, def | masc and fem pl cœurs,cœurheart | noun | masc pl cessecesserto stop, cease | verb, reg | third pers sing pres lelethe | art, def | masc sing sommeilsommeilsleep; sleepiness; inactivity, dormancy | noun | masc sing
Craindrecraindrebe afraid/scared of; be worried/concerned about | verb, irreg | infin lelethe | art, def | masc sing compteur,compteurmeter; odometer; counter, recorder | noun | masc sing leslesthe | art, def | masc and fem pl doutesdoutedoubt, uncertainty | noun | masc pl s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelséveillentéveillerto wake up, awaken | verb, reg | third pers pl pres | s'éveiller = to wake up, awaken
Facefaceface | noun | fem sing | face à = facing, in front of; faced with auxà + lesat the, to the | prep + def art | masc and fem pl egos,egoego | noun | masc pl touttouteverything; anything | pron semblesemblerto seem, to look, to appear | verb, reg | third pers sing pres atteintatteindreto reach, get to; attain, achieve; affect, harm | verb, irreg | pp
Effacereffacererase; delete; wipe off | verb, spl chg | infin leslesthe | art, def | masc and fem pl mots,motword | noun | masc pl cassercasserbreak, break open, crack, shatter; get on s.o's case, offend | verb, reg | infin l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsécrinécrinjewlry box; setting, background | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep respirerrespirerto breathe, inhale; ooze, display, exude | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv quandquandwhen | adv, conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir tort = to be wrong tort,tortwrong | noun | masc sing | avoir tort = to be wrong jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsarrêtearrêterto stop | verb, reg | first pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in coll speech
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex touchertoucherto touch, feel; to reach; to touch, move, affect deeply | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv sisiif | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir peur = to be afraid peur,peurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelscroiscroireto believe, think | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres enento, in | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj etetand | conj moimoime, to me | pron | first pers sing, disj

[Bridge]
L’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsespoirespoirhope | noun | masc sing quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel joue,jouerto play | verb, reg | third pers sing pres lelethe | art, def | masc sing feu,feufire | noun | masc sing lelethe | art, def | masc sing froidfroidcold | adj | masc sing
Ununa | art, indef | masc sing soufflesoufflebreath; breeze, puff of wind, blast of air | noun | masc sing auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing cou,couneck | noun | masc sing baiserbaiserkiss | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep roiroiking | noun | masc sing
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj reprendre,reprendreto take back; take over; pick up again, resume; go back over; have another helping/glass; take, use; take another look at; get back, recover; start again | verb, irreg | infin | se reprendre = to pull oneself together, get a grip on oneself, get back on one's feet; correct oneself pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj défendredéfendreto defend, protect; support stand up for; forbid | verb, reg | infin | se défendre = protect/defend oneself; hold one's own
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex comprendrecomprendreto understand | verb, irreg | infin chaquechaqueeach, every | adj foisfoistime | noun | fem sing and pl

[Chorus]
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep respirerrespirerto breathe, inhale; ooze, display, exude | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv quandquandwhen | adv, conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir tort = to be wrong tort,tortwrong | noun | masc sing | avoir tort = to be wrong jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsarrêtearrêterto stop | verb, reg | first pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in coll speech
Aimeraimerto like, to love | verb, reg | infin ààat, to, in | prep mort,mortdeath; end, ruin; dead person | noun | fem sing sanssanswithout | prep sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex touchertoucherto touch, feel; to reach; to touch, move, affect deeply | verb, reg | infin
Mêmemêmeeven | adv sisiif | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres | avoir peur = to be afraid peur,peurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid jejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub suisêtreto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv j’jeI | pron | first pers sing, sub | shortened to j' before vowelscroiscroireto believe, think | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres enento, in | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj etetand | conj moimoime, to me | pron | first pers sing, disj

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Aimer à mort
Loving to death

[Verse 1]
Avancer droit, perdre son temps
Moving straight, wasting your time
Avoir peur de soi, ou peur des gens
Being afraid of yourself, or afraid of people
C’est si facile quand on s’endort
It’s so easy when you fall asleep
Perdre le fil, sans les accords
Losing track, without the agreements

[Chorus]
Aimer à mort, sans respirer
Loving to death, without breathing
Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
Even when I’m wrong, I’m here, I don’t stop
Aimer à mort, sans se toucher
Loving to death, without touching each other
Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi
Even if I’m scared, I’m here, I believe in you and me

[Verse 2]
Arrêter les cœurs, cesse le sommeil
Stopping hearts, sleep stops
Craindre le compteur, les doutes s’éveillent
Fearing the meter, doubts awaken
Face aux egos, tout semble atteint
Faced with egos, everything seems affected
Effacer les mots, casser l’écrin
Erasing the words, break the background

[Chorus]
Aimer à mort, sans respirer
Loving to death, without breathing
Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
Even when I’m wrong, I’m here, I don’t stop
Aimer à mort, sans se toucher
Loving to death, without touching each other
Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi
Even if I’m scared, I’m here, I believe in you and me

[Bridge]
L’espoir qui joue, le feu, le froid
The hope that plays, the fire, the cold
Un souffle au cou, baiser de roi
A breath on the neck, king’s kiss
Pour nous reprendre, pour nous défendre
To get back on our feet, to defend ourselves
Pour se comprendre chaque fois
To understand each other every time

[Chorus]
Aimer à mort, sans respirer
Loving to death, without breathing
Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
Even when I’m wrong, I’m here, I don’t stop
Aimer à mort, sans se toucher
Loving to death, without touching each other
Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi
Even if I’m scared, I’m here, I believe in you and me

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Avancer droit, perdre son temps

• Contractions:
  • Face aux egos, tout semble atteint
  • Un souffle au cou, baiser de roi

• Disjunctive Pronouns:
  • Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi

• Reflexive Pronouns:
  • C’est si facile quand on s’endort
  • Craindre le compteur, les doutes s’éveillent
  • Pour nous reprendre, pour nous défendre
  • Aimer à mort, sans se toucher
  • Pour se comprendre chaque fois

• Irregular Verbs:
  • être:
    • C’est si facile quand on s’endort
    • Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
    • Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi
  • endormir:
    • C’est si facile quand on s’endort
  • avoir:
    • Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
    • Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi
  • croire:
    • Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi

• Expressions with avoir:
  • Même quand j’ai tort, je suis là, j’arrête pas
  • Même si j’ai peur, je suis là, j’crois en toi et moi

• Reflexive Verbs:
  • C’est si facile quand on s’endort
  • Craindre le compteur, les doutes s’éveillent
  • Pour nous reprendre, pour nous défendre
• Reciprocal Verbs:
  • Aimer à mort, sans se toucher
  • Pour se comprendre chaque fois