The French proverb "Qui se ressemble s'assemble" explained

Ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the romantic French saying “Qui se ressemble s’assemble”?

More precisely, it includes a complete guide of what it is and how you can use it in a casual conversation with an audio example. Plus, we also added some super useful stuff like slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example, synonym and more!

If you are interested, on this page you can find more of these sayings explained and the complete directory of all our French words tutorials on this page. Wishing you a good learning!

Table of Contents

Artboard 1
Artboard 1
Artboard 1
Showcase of this quote from our Instagram account
Daily posts like this on Instagram → @all.french

French to English translation

Pronunciation example

Slow pronunciation

Normal pronunciation

What does it mean?

Definition

  • Qui se ressemble → Who looks alike
  • S’assemble → Assemble/Reunite/Gather

There are two meanings for this French proverb:

The first one is that people with the same habits / character / tastes / history / etc. find each other naturally. Because they are unconsciously looking for someone who can understand them. These people are more likely to become friends or end up in a relationship.

And the second is a consequence of the first one: we should know that people who gather (friends or couples) are more likely to have common traits. And these traits can be qualities as well as defects.

How to use

Every time you discover common traits between two friends or two members of a couple, don’t be surprised! Use “Qui se ressemble s’assemble” instead.

You can also have a clue of who someone is, based on his close friends and relatives. But be careful! This is not an exact science and you may face many counter-examples.

Fun facts

We also have a proverb saying the exact opposite: “Les opposés s’attirent“. (“Opposites attract“)

And the debate about which one is the “truth” is still on…

Synonyms

  • Qui se ressemblent s’assemblent. (Plural form)
  • Qui s’assemble se ressemble. (Same, but in the other way)
  • Il n’y a pas de mauvaise chaussure qui ne trouve sa pareille. (“There is no bad shoe that can’t find his partner“)
  • Quelqu’un qui vous comprend, même au bout du monde, est comme un voisin. (“Someone who understands you, even in the other side of the world, is like a neighbor“)

Dialogue example with audio

Audio dialogue by French natives

Dialogue audio

Dialogue transcription

” On a les mêmes goûts toi et moi “
” We have the same tastes you and me “
” Oui chéri ! C’est génial ! “
” Yes sweetheart ! That’s awesome! “
” Qui se ressemble s’assemble. “
” Those who resemble assemble. “
Showcase of this dialogue from our Pinterest account
More pins like this on Pinterest → @allbfrench