How to Say ‘I thought’ in French
Je pensais
zhuh pahn-say
[zhuh pahn-say]
Phrase Breakdown
Je
[zhuh]
I
First-person singular subject pronoun.
Je pensais que l'autre route était meilleure.
I thought the other route was better.
pensais
[pahn-say]
thought / was thinking
Imperfect form of 'penser', used for what someone believed or was thinking.
Je pensais prendre un autre taxi.
I was thinking of taking another taxi.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer