Questions & Answers about C'est le moins important.
C’ stands for ce (this/that). C’est is used to identify or evaluate something: C’est le moins important = “This/That is the least important.”
Use C’est before a noun or a superlative with an article. Il est is used before a bare adjective referring to a specific noun already mentioned (e.g., Ce sujet, il est important). With a superlative like le moins important, C’est is the default choice unless you’re clearly referring back to a specific masculine noun (e.g., Le dernier point, il est le moins important).
For a plural, use Ce sont + plural: Ce sont les moins importants.
In colloquial speech, many people still say C’est for plurals, but Ce sont is the grammatically careful form.
That changes the meaning.
- C’est moins important = “It’s less important” (comparative).
- C’est le moins important = “It’s the least important” (superlative).
Use de + the group:
- C’est le moins important des trois points.
- C’est le moins important du dossier.
- C’est la moins importante de toutes (les questions).
Not as a direct swap with important. Le moindre means “the least/smallest” or “the slightest” and is often used with a noun: C’est le moindre des problèmes.
Saying le moindre important is not idiomatic. Stick with le moins important or rephrase: C’est ce qui compte le moins.
Most adjectives like important go after the noun with superlatives:
- La question la moins importante (not: ✗ la moins importante question in typical usage).
- C’est la solution la moins importante.
- C’est = [sɛ]; le = [lə].
- moins = [mwɛ̃] (nasal vowel; don’t pronounce the final -s unless there’s liaison).
- Before a vowel, there’s a common liaison after moins: moins important = [mwɛ̃ z‿ɛ̃pɔʁtɑ̃].
- important (masc. sing.) ends with a nasal [ɑ̃]; the final -t is silent: [ɛ̃pɔʁtɑ̃].
- Feminine importante pronounces the final -t: [ɛ̃pɔʁtɑ̃t].
- Don’t confuse moins [mwɛ̃] with mois [mwa] (“month”).
No.
- C’est le moins important = it’s ranked last in importance.
- Ce n’est pas le plus important = it’s not the top priority, but it might be in the middle, not necessarily the least.
- C’est ce qui compte le moins.
- C’est secondaire.
- C’est le moins prioritaire.
- C’est le point le moins crucial.
- More casual: Ce n’est vraiment pas important.
They’re different.
- le moins = “the least” (superlative of inferiority): le moins important.
- au moins = “at least” (minimum amount): Il y en a au moins trois. Don’t mix them: ✗ au moins important is incorrect.