sembler

to seem

verb sahm-BLAY Common

Also means

to appear

Usage Note

Sembler is typically used impersonally with il — il semble que (it seems that) — and is more formal than avoir l'air, the everyday equivalent meaning 'to look' or 'to seem'. When il semble que is followed by a clause, the subjunctive is required in careful French. It derives from Vulgar Latin similare, from similis ('similar').

Examples

"Il semble fatigué ce matin."

Natural Translation

He seems tired this morning.

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