French Phrase
Les récoltes galèrent.
Meaning
This phrase literally means 'The harvests are struggling' or 'The harvests are having a hard time.' The verb 'galérer' is very informal and implies facing significant difficulties, hardship, or a tough situation. It conveys a sense of things not going well and requiring a lot of effort.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal contexts when discussing agricultural output that is performing poorly due to bad weather, pests, or other challenges. It can also be adapted to other situations where something (a project, a business, a person) is facing severe difficulties and struggling to succeed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesrécoltesgalèrent
Les (The)
'Les' is the definite article for plural nouns in French, meaning 'the'. It agrees in number with the noun it precedes, in this case, 'récoltes' (harvests).
récoltes (harvests)
'Récoltes' is a feminine plural noun meaning 'harvests' or 'crops'. It comes from the verb 'récolter' (to harvest). Pay attention to its feminine gender when using adjectives.
galèrent (are struggling)
'Galèrent' is the third-person plural conjugation of the informal verb 'galérer' (to struggle, to have a hard time) in the present tense. It's a regular -ER verb, but its informal nature makes it stand out. It implies significant difficulty and effort.
🗨In Conversation
Comment vont les champs cette année?
How are the fields doing this year?
Oh là là, les récoltes galèrent avec la sécheresse.
Oh dear, the harvests are struggling with the drought.
✕Common Mistakes
Les récoltes sont difficiles.
While grammatically correct, 'sont difficiles' is more formal and less expressive of the intense struggle implied by 'galèrent'. It lacks the informal, colloquial punch.
Les récoltes ont des problèmes.
This is too generic. 'Avoir des problèmes' means 'to have problems,' but 'galérer' specifically means 'to struggle' or 'to have a really hard time,' conveying a stronger sense of difficulty.
↔Alternatives
Les récoltes sont mauvaises.
The harvests are bad.
Les récoltes connaissent des difficultés.
The harvests are experiencing difficulties.
Les récoltes peinent à se développer.
The harvests are struggling to develop.
Cultural Tip
The verb 'galérer' is a very common and versatile informal verb in French, used to describe struggling, having a hard time, or being in a difficult situation. It's widely used by younger generations and in casual conversation. While it can be applied to many situations (e.g., 'Je galère avec mes devoirs' - 'I'm struggling with my homework'), its use with 'récoltes' highlights a particularly tough agricultural season. Avoid using it in formal writing or professional settings unless you aim for a very specific, informal tone.