French Phrase
Ils font une baby shower.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘They are having a baby shower.’ It uses the verb ‘faire’ to indicate that they are organizing or hosting the event. The phrase is common in contemporary French, especially among younger speakers who have adopted the English term.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone that a group (usually friends or family) is planning a baby shower for an expectant parent. It works in casual conversation, invitations, or social media posts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilsfontunebabyshower
Subject pronoun (Ils)
‘Ils’ is the third‑person plural masculine subject pronoun, used for a group of males or a mixed‑gender group.
Faire + noun (font une)
The verb ‘faire’ can mean ‘to host/hold’ when followed by a noun, e.g., ‘faire une fête’ – ‘to have a party’.
Indefinite article (une)
‘Une’ is the feminine singular indefinite article; it agrees with the gender of the noun that follows.
Loanword (baby shower)
‘Baby shower’ is an English loanword used in French without translation; it stays masculine in the phrase, but the article agrees with the implied ‘célébration’ (feminine).
🗨In Conversation
Ils font une baby shower ce week‑end ?
Are they having a baby shower this weekend?
Oui, ils invitent tous leurs amis et préparent plein de jeux.
Yes, they’re inviting all their friends and preparing lots of games.
✕Common Mistakes
Ils ont une baby shower.
‘Faire’ is the correct verb for ‘to host’; ‘avoir’ (ont) would change the meaning to ‘they have a baby shower’ as a possession, which is unnatural.
Ils font un baby shower.
The article must agree with the implied feminine noun ‘célébration’; use ‘une’ not ‘un’.
Ils font une baby showere.
‘Baby shower’ is a loanword and stays unchanged; adding an ‘e’ is a spelling error.
↔Alternatives
Ils organisent une baby shower.
They are organizing a baby shower.
Ils préparent une baby shower.
They are preparing a baby shower.
Ils célèbrent une baby shower.
They are celebrating a baby shower.
Cultural Tip
A baby shower is not a traditional French ceremony, but it has become popular in urban France, especially among anglophone‑influenced circles. It is usually organized by friends or relatives and focuses on games, gifts, and advice for the future parents. When speaking to older generations, you might prefer ‘une fête prénatale’ or simply ‘une fête pour le bébé.’