French word
How to say “to be able to” in French
The French for “to be able to”, with audio, grammar notes and the words that go with it.
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French · lesson preview
Step 4Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.
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Start freeto be able to
pouvoir
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French
pouvoir
to be able to
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Grammar notes
- This is a verb. See the full conjugation of pouvoir.
French words and phrases that go with it
Learn these next. They are among the most common everyday French words and sentences.
Where this fits
“to be able to” is word 22 of our most-common-words list in the 4ToSpeak French guides. Browse every French word and phrase A–Z or work through the common words in order.
How do you say “to be able to” in French?
“to be able to” in French is “pouvoir”.
What does “pouvoir” mean in English?
“pouvoir” is French for “to be able to”.
How do you conjugate “pouvoir”?
In the present tense: je peux, tu peux, il / elle peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils / elles peuvent.
How do I remember “pouvoir”?
Say it out loud in a sentence, not on its own. Hear it, say it, then use it in a full French sentence. That is how every 4ToSpeak lesson works.
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Use “pouvoir” in a sentence
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