French Phrase
Donne‑lui cinq tapes dans le dos.
Meaning
Literally, “Give him/her five pats on the back.” It is a friendly, encouraging gesture, often used to congratulate or motivate someone.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings among friends, family, or teammates when you want to celebrate an achievement or give a quick boost of confidence. It is not appropriate in formal or professional contexts where physical contact might be considered too familiar.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Donne‑luicinqtapesdansledos
Imperative + pronoun
In the affirmative imperative, object pronouns are attached to the verb with a hyphen and placed after the verb (e.g., Donne‑lui).
Indirect object pronoun "lui"
"lui" replaces a third‑person singular indirect object (to him / to her).
Cardinal number "cinq"
"cinq" is the number five; it agrees with the noun that follows (tapes, plural).
Noun "tape"
"tape" (plural "tapes") can mean a light slap or a pat; in this context it is a friendly pat on the back.
Prepositional phrase "dans le dos"
"dans le dos" means "on the back"; it specifies where the pats are given.
🗨In Conversation
Il a enfin terminé son projet, donne‑lui cinq tapes dans le dos.
He finally finished his project, give him five pats on the back.
Bonne idée, il va adorer !
Good idea, he’ll love it!
✕Common Mistakes
Lui donne cinq tapes dans le dos.
In the affirmative imperative, the pronoun must follow the verb with a hyphen (Donne‑lui).
Donne‑lui cinq tapés dans le dos.
"Tapés" is the past participle; the noun should be "tapes" (plural of tape).
Donne‑lui cinq tapes sur le dos.
"Sur le dos" means "on top of the back" and sounds odd for a pat; the correct preposition is "dans".
↔Alternatives
Fais‑lui cinq tapotements dans le dos.
Give him/her five little pats on the back.
Donne‑lui cinq petites tapes sur le dos.
Give him/her five small pats on the back.
Fais‑lui cinq coups de main dans le dos.
Give him/her five pats on the back.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking cultures, a light pat on the back is a common way to show encouragement among close acquaintances. However, be aware of personal boundaries: some people may find any back‑touching too intimate, especially in mixed‑gender groups or formal settings. When in doubt, a verbal compliment works just as well.