Tomber in French: Meaning, Conjugation, and Common Expressions Explained

If you’re learning French, you’ve probably come across the verb tomber very early on. Most textbooks translate it as “to fall”, but in real-life French, tomber is used in many more situations than just falling down.

At its core, tomber means “to fall.”However, French speakers use tomber both literally and figuratively, making it one of the most versatile verbs in the language.

This is the most straightforward use of the verb.

• Il est tombé dans l’escalier.→ He fell down the stairs.

• Elle est tombée de vélo.→ She fell off her bike.

This meaning is common but only represents a small part of how tomber is used in French.

Common Figurative Meanings of Tomber

Tomber malade - To Get Sick

• Elle est tombée malade la semaine dernière.→ She got sick last week.

French uses tomber,

 where English uses get.

Tomber amoureux / amoureuse - To Fall in Love

• Il est tombé amoureux d’elle.→ He fell in love with her.

Tomber d’accord - To Agree

• Nous sommes tombés d’accord.→ We reached an agreement.

This expression is extremely common in spoken and written French.

Tomber sur quelqu’un / quelque chose - To Run Into

• Je suis tombée sur un ancien collègue.→ I ran into a former coworker.

Essential French Expressions With Tomber

Tomber dans les pommes - To Faint

• Il faisait très chaud, elle est tombée dans les pommes.→ It was very hot; she passed out.

Tomber à l’eau - To Fall Through / Be Canceled

• Le projet est tombé à l’eau.→ The project fell through.

Tomber de haut - To Be Shocked or Disappointed

• Il est tombé de haut en apprenant la nouvelle.→ He was deeply shocked when he heard the news.

Tomber en panne - To Break Down

• La voiture est tombée en panne.→ The car broke down.

Tomber juste / tomber pile — To Be Exactly Right

• Votre remarque tombe juste.→ Your comment is spot on.

Common Mistakes With Tomber (English Speakers)

❌ Je suis tombé amoureux avec elle.✔️ Je suis tombé amoureux d’elle.

❌ Je suis tombé amoureux sur elle.✔️ Je suis tombé amoureux.

Correct prepositions are essential when using tomber in French.

---

The verb tomber is a perfect example of how French relies on idiomatic expressions rather than direct translation. Mastering tomber helps you understand spoken French more easily, sound more natural and fluent, and avoid literal translations from English.

If you want to speak French like a real French speaker, tomber is a verb you need to learn.

Want to go further with the verb tomber?

In this podcast episode, we break down tomber step by step, with clear explanations, real-life examples, common mistakes, and natural pronunciation. Perfect if you want to understand how French speakers actually use this verb in everyday conversation.

Listen to the episode here.