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French Phrase

Sinon, pense à faire un don.

/si.nɔ̃ pɑ̃s‿a fɛʁ œ̃ dɔ̃/
Meaning"Otherwise, think about making a donation."
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Meaning

The sentence politely urges the listener to consider donating, but only if the previous option isn’t taken. It combines a conditional adverb (*sinon*) with a gentle suggestion (*pense à*).

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When to use

Use this phrase in fundraising emails, charity campaigns, or informal conversations where you want to nudge someone toward a donation without sounding too pushy.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Sinon,penseàfaireundon.

1

Sinon

An adverb meaning 'otherwise' or 'if not'; used to introduce an alternative suggestion.

2

penser à + infinitif

The verb *penser* followed by the preposition *à* plus an infinitive expresses a suggestion or reminder (think about doing something).

3

faire un don

A set phrase meaning 'to make a donation'; *faire* is used instead of *donner* when referring to charitable contributions.

🗨In Conversation

A

Je ne suis pas sûr de pouvoir aider financièrement cette fois-ci.

I'm not sure I can help financially this time.

Sinon, pense à faire un don.

Otherwise, think about making a donation.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Sinon, pense de faire un don.

    The verb *penser* never takes *de* before an infinitive; the correct preposition is *à*.

  • Sinon, pense à faire don.

    The article *un* is required; *faire un don* is the idiomatic expression.

  • Sinon, pense à donner.

    While *donner* is understandable, *faire un don* is the preferred phrase for charitable giving.

↔Alternatives

  • Dans le cas contraire, envisage de faire un don.

    If not, consider making a donation.

  • Si ce n’est pas possible, tu pourrais tout de même faire un don.

    If that's not possible, you could still make a donation.

  • Sinon, n’hésite pas à faire un don.

    Otherwise, don't hesitate to donate.

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Cultural Tip

In French, *penser à* is the standard construction for suggesting an action; *penser de* is incorrect. When talking about charitable contributions, *faire un don* is more formal and widely used than simply *donner*, which can sound vague. Adjust the tone (adding *s’il te plaît* or *s’il vous plaît*) depending on whether you speak to a friend or a stranger.