Dire autre chose que "pas" en français
A2 French listening practice · French · Curated for beginners
What does “sage” mean in French?
English speakers read sage as “wise”, and French does have that sense — un sage is a wise elder. But said of a child it means well-behaved: calm, obedient, not causing trouble. Sois sage is what a parent says on the way out the door, and il a été très sage praises behaviour, not intellect. The opposite is agité — restless, into everything.
The stock comparison is sage comme une image, “good as a picture”: a child so still they could be framed. The adult senses stay closer to English — une décision sage is a sensible one, and the press calls the Conseil constitutionnel les Sages. In sage-femme (midwife), sage keeps an older meaning of “skilled, knowing”. This clip uses the negative route, glossing pas sage as agité.