French Phrase
Les danseurs étaient incroyables.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘The dancers were incredible.’ It is a compliment given after watching a dance performance, emphasizing how impressive the dancers looked or moved.
When to use
Use this phrase right after a ballet, contemporary‑dance show, flash‑mob, or any live performance where you want to praise the quality of the dancers. It works in informal conversation as well as in a short review.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesdanseursétaientincroyables
Les (definite article, plural)
Used before a plural noun to indicate specific dancers.
danseurs (noun, masculine plural)
The word for ‘dancers’; masculine nouns take -s in the plural.
étaient (imparfait of être)
Imperfect tense of ‘to be’, 3rd person plural, used for a past, ongoing state.
incroyables (adjective, plural)
Adjective ‘incredible’; must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Les danseurs étaient incroyables.
The dancers were incredible.
Oui, ils ont vraiment captivé le public.
Yes, they really captivated the audience.
✕Common Mistakes
Les danseurs étais incroyables.
‘étais’ is 1st‑person singular; the subject is plural, so use ‘étaient’.
Les danseurs étaient incroyable.
The adjective must agree with the plural noun; drop the –s and it becomes singular.
Les danseur étaient incroyables.
Missing the plural –s on the noun; ‘danseur’ is singular.
↔Alternatives
Les danseurs étaient formidables.
The dancers were wonderful.
Les danseurs ont été exceptionnels.
The dancers were exceptional.
Quel spectacle ! Les danseurs étaient époustouflants.
What a show! The dancers were breathtaking.
Cultural Tip
In French, most adjectives follow the noun, so ‘incroyables’ comes after ‘danseurs.’ The adjective must match the noun’s gender and number, otherwise it sounds ungrammatical. ‘Incroyable’ can be used both positively and negatively, so context decides whether it’s a compliment or a criticism.