Want to invite someone closer in French? While "Venez ici" is a direct translation for "come here," it's not always the most natural or appropriate phrase. Just like in English, there are many nuances and situations where you'd use different expressions to beckon someone. Knowing these alternatives will make your French sound much more natural and help you understand native speakers better. Let's explore 9 different ways to say "come here" in French, covering various contexts and levels of formality!

The standard and direct 'come here' – Viens ici / Venez ici

When you want to tell someone to 'come here' in French, the most common and direct phrases you'll use are Viens ici and Venez ici.

These two phrases are essentially the same command, but they differ based on whom you're addressing, reflecting the French language's distinction between informal and formal/plural address:

Viens ici - Used when speaking to one person informally (using the tu form).
Venez ici - Used when speaking to one person formally (using the vous form) or to multiple people (plural vous form).

Viens ici is your go-to when speaking to a child, a close friend, a family member, or anyone with whom you have an informal relationship. It's direct and friendly.

Venez ici is essential for showing respect. Use it with strangers, elders, colleagues in a formal setting, or anyone you'd address with vous. It's also used when addressing a group of people.

Both Viens ici and Venez ici convey a clear, often immediate, instruction to move towards the speaker's location. They are straightforward, imperative commands.

While ici (here) explicitly states the destination, it can sometimes be omitted if the context makes it clear. Just Viens! or Venez! can be used, especially in very informal or urgent situations.

The tone of voice is crucial. Depending on intonation, these phrases can range from a gentle invitation (e.g., 'Viens ici, mon chéri') to a firm command (e.g., 'Venez ici, tout de suite!').

💡 * Viens ici, je dois te parler. (Come here, I need to talk to you.)

Venez ici, s'il vous plaît. (Come here, please.)

Maman, viens ici! (Mom, come here!)

Les enfants, venez ici pour le dîner! (Children, come here for dinner!)

Viens donc! (So come on! / Just come! - more informal/inviting)

The common, slightly less formal 'come here' (often for objects or animals) – Viens là / Venez là

To tell someone or something to 'come here' in French, you'll frequently hear the phrases Viens là (informal singular) or Venez là (formal singular/plural).

While viens or venez alone mean 'come,' adding là (meaning 'there' or 'here,' depending on context) emphasizes the direction, making the command more direct and specific to 'come to this spot.'

These phrases are particularly common when calling a pet, like a dog or cat. You might also hear it playfully used for an inanimate object you want to retrieve, or when urging a small child to approach.

When used with people, especially adults, Viens là or Venez là can sometimes carry a slightly less formal, more commanding, or even impatient tone than a simple Viens or Venez. It implies a direct instruction to move to the speaker's location.

The addition of là isn't strictly necessary for the command, but it adds a spatial emphasis. Think of it as 'come over here' rather than just 'come,' highlighting the immediate vicinity of the speaker.

Despite its directness, it's a very natural and frequently used expression in everyday French, especially in informal settings or when a clear, immediate action is desired.

💡 * Viens là, mon chat! (Come here, my cat!)* Venez là, les enfants, c'est l'heure de manger. (Come here, children, it's time to eat.)* Tu as fait tomber ton jouet ? Viens là, je vais t'aider. (You dropped your toy? Come here, I'll help you.)* Viens là, je dois te dire quelque chose. (Come here, I need to tell you something.)* Venez là, Monsieur, pour signer le document. (Come here, Sir, to sign the document.)

The polite or formal 'approach' – Approchez-vous / Approche-toi

The verb approcher means 'to approach' or 'to bring something closer.' However, when telling someone to 'approach' or 'come closer' in French, you almost always use its pronominal form: s'approcher.

The reflexive verb s'approcher literally means 'to approach oneself,' but it's used idiomatically to mean 'to come closer' or 'to draw near.' This is the form you'll use for direct commands.

When speaking to someone formally (using vous) or to multiple people, the command to 'come closer' is Approchez-vous. This is a polite and respectful way to ask someone to move nearer.

For informal situations, when addressing a single person you would use tu, the command becomes Approche-toi. This form is appropriate with friends, family, or children.

Both Approchez-vous and Approche-toi are direct commands. To soften them and make them more polite, you can add s'il vous plaît (please, formal/plural) or s'il te plaît (please, informal/singular) at the end, e.g., Approchez-vous, s'il vous plaît.

These phrases are commonly used when asking someone to move closer to hear something, to see something, or simply to reduce distance in a conversation or group setting. They are essential for directing people politely in various social contexts.

💡 *Approchez-vous pour mieux voir. (Come closer to see better.)
*Approche-toi, je dois te dire quelque chose. (Come closer, I need to tell you something.)
*Approchez-vous du tableau, s'il vous plaît. (Approach the board, please.)
*Approche-toi de la fenêtre. (Come closer to the window.)
*Les enfants, approchez-vous ! (Children, come closer!)

The encouraging 'come closer' – Rapproche-toi / Rapprochez-vous

The phrases Rapproche-toi and Rapprochez-vous literally mean 'come closer' or 'draw near' in French. They are imperative forms of the reflexive verb se rapprocher, which means 'to come closer' or 'to approach each other'.

These expressions are used to encourage someone or a group to reduce physical or even emotional distance. It's often said in a gentle, inviting, or encouraging tone, rather than a demanding one, conveying a sense of warmth or necessity for proximity.

Rapproche-toi is the informal singular command (used with tu), typically addressed to one person you know well, like a friend or child. Rapprochez-vous is the formal singular command (used with vous) or the plural command (addressed to multiple people, regardless of formality).

You might hear these phrases in various scenarios: asking people to gather for a photo, inviting someone to sit closer on a couch, or encouraging a child to stay near for safety. It emphasizes bringing individuals or groups into closer proximity.

💡 * Rapproche-toi, je ne t'entends pas bien. (Come closer, I can't hear you well.)

Rapprochez-vous pour la photo, s'il vous plaît. (Come closer for the photo, please.)

Les enfants, rapprochez-vous du feu, il fait froid. (Kids, come closer to the fire, it's cold.)

Viens, rapproche-toi, je veux te dire un secret. (Come, draw near, I want to tell you a secret.)

The invitation to 'join me' – Rejoins-moi / Rejoignez-moi

To invite someone to 'join me' in French, you'll primarily use the imperative forms of the verb rejoindre: rejoins-moi (informal, singular) or rejoignez-moi (formal, singular or plural).

The choice between rejoins-moi and rejoignez-moi depends on the level of formality and the number of people you're addressing. Use rejoins-moi when speaking to a friend, family member, or someone you would address with tu. Opt for rejoignez-moi for a stranger, an elder, a superior, or when addressing multiple people.

These phrases are versatile and can be used in various situations. You might say them to invite someone to join you at a table, to come along to an event, or to meet up with a group you are already with. It implies an action of coming together or uniting.

Both rejoins-moi and rejoignez-moi come from the verb rejoindre, which means 'to rejoin,' 'to meet,' or 'to catch up with.' Understanding its infinitive form helps in recognizing its conjugations.

The suffix -moi is the direct object pronoun 'me' in its emphatic form, used with affirmative imperatives. It literally means 'join me'.

💡 * Rejoins-moi au café après le travail. (Join me at the cafe after work.)

Rejoignez-moi à la réunion à 10h. (Join me at the meeting at 10 AM.)

Si tu es libre, rejoins-moi pour une promenade. (If you're free, join me for a walk.)

Venez, rejoignez-moi pour le dessert! (Come, join me for dessert!)

The instruction to 'follow me' – Suis-moi / Suivez-moi

To tell someone to 'follow me' in French, you primarily use two imperative forms: Suis-moi and Suivez-moi. Both literally translate to 'follow me,' but their usage depends on the level of formality and the number of people you are addressing.

Suis-moi comes from the verb suivre (to follow) conjugated in the imperative 'tu' form. It's used when addressing one person informally, like a friend, family member, or child. Suivez-moi is the imperative 'vous' form, used for formal situations or when addressing multiple people.

Choosing between Suis-moi and Suivez-moi is crucial for politeness and clarity. Use Suis-moi for a casual request to a single individual, such as 'Suis-moi, on va prendre un café' (Follow me, we're going to get coffee). Opt for Suivez-moi when speaking to a group, a stranger, or someone you wish to show respect to, like a tour guide saying 'Suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît, vers la sortie' (Follow me, please, towards the exit).

Remember that adding 's'il te plaît' (if it pleases you, informal) or 's'il vous plaît' (if it pleases you, formal/plural) can soften the command, making it more polite: 'Suis-moi, s'il te plaît' or 'Suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît'. Mastering these phrases allows you to give clear 'follow me' instructions in French, adapting to both casual and formal interactions.

💡 *Suis-moi, je vais te montrer le chemin. (Follow me, I'll show you the way.)
*Suivez-moi, mesdames et messieurs, la visite commence. (Follow me, ladies and gentlemen, the tour begins.)
*Suis-moi, s'il te plaît, j'ai quelque chose à te dire. (Follow me, please, I have something to tell you.)
*Suivez-moi attentivement pour ne rien manquer. (Follow me carefully so you don't miss anything.)

The informal 'come this way' – Viens par ici / Venez par ici

The phrases Viens par ici and Venez par ici are common informal ways to say 'come this way' or 'come over here' in French. They are direct invitations to move closer to the speaker or in a specific direction.

The choice between Viens (from the verb venir, to come) and Venez depends on the level of formality and the number of people you are addressing. Viens par ici uses the informal 'tu' form, suitable for friends, family, or children. Venez par ici uses the formal 'vous' form, appropriate for strangers, elders, or when addressing multiple people.

These versatile phrases can be used in various everyday situations, from calling a pet closer to guiding someone through a crowded place. They imply a mild directive or a friendly suggestion to change location.

💡 * Viens par ici, je veux te montrer quelque chose. (Come this way, I want to show you something.)

Les enfants, venez par ici ! Le dîner est prêt. (Kids, come this way! Dinner is ready.)

Excusez-moi, monsieur, venez par ici s'il vous plaît. (Excuse me, sir, come this way please.)

Si tu veux voir le jardin, viens par ici. (If you want to see the garden, come this way.)

Pour une meilleure vue, venez par ici ! (For a better view, come this way!)

The simple 'move forward' (often implying towards the speaker) – Avance / Avancez

The verbs Avance and Avancez are imperative forms of the verb avancer, meaning 'to advance' or 'to move forward'. They are direct commands used to tell someone to move.

While literally meaning 'move forward,' these commands often carry the subtle implication of moving towards the person speaking, or towards a specific, often closer, point. Think of it as 'come forward' or 'step closer'.

The choice between Avance and Avancez depends on who you are addressing. Use Avance for a single person you would address with tu (informal). Use Avancez for a single person you would address with vous (formal), or for multiple people.

💡 * Avance! Je ne vois rien. (Move forward! I can't see anything.)

Avancez, s'il vous plaît, la porte va fermer. (Move forward, please, the door is going to close.)

Les enfants, avancez un peu pour la photo. (Kids, move a little closer for the photo.)

Avancez doucement vers la sortie. (Move slowly towards the exit.)

The emphatic 'come on, come' – Allez, viens / Allez, venez

When you want to emphatically say “come on, come” in French, especially to urge someone to join you or to hurry, the most common and natural phrases are Allez, viens (for singular informal 'you') and Allez, venez (for plural or formal 'you'). These expressions combine the imperative of aller (to go) and venir (to come) to create a strong invitation or command.

The phrase Allez, viens is used when you are speaking to one person informally (using the tu form). It conveys a sense of urgency, encouragement, or even a touch of impatience. It's like saying 'Come on, let's go!' or 'Hurry up and come!'

For situations involving multiple people or when addressing someone formally (using the vous form), you would use Allez, venez. The meaning remains the same – an emphatic call to come – but the conjugation adjusts to the appropriate level of formality or number.

The addition of Allez at the beginning significantly boosts the emphatic nature of the command. While Viens or Venez alone simply mean 'Come,' adding Allez transforms it into a more forceful, encouraging, or sometimes exasperated 'Come on, come!'

You'll hear Allez, viens / Allez, venez in various contexts: inviting friends to a party, urging a child to get ready, calling someone to see something interesting, or even in sports to encourage a player. It's a versatile expression for prompting action.

💡 Allez, viens, on va être en retard! (Come on, come, we're going to be late!)
Allez, venez voir ce que j'ai trouvé! (Come on, come see what I found!)
Le bus arrive, allez, viens! (The bus is coming, come on, come!)
Allez, venez, la fête commence! (Come on, come, the party is starting!)
Tu es prêt? Allez, viens! (Are you ready? Come on, come!)

Are there other ways to say 'come here' in French?

Our list covers the most common and versatile ways to say 'come here' in French. However, like any language, French is rich with regional variations, slang, and more formal expressions that might also convey a similar meaning.

To explore further, you can try an online search for 'comment dire viens ici en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, like 'comment dire viens ici en Belgique' or 'comment dire viens ici au Québec'.

When you encounter new phrases, always make sure to check their definitions and, most importantly, try to see them used in context. This helps you understand their nuances and appropriate usage, ensuring you don't accidentally use something too informal or out of place.

Pay close attention as you read French books, watch French films, or listen to French music and podcasts. You'll often discover different, perhaps more colloquial, ways people invite someone to approach, enriching your understanding of natural French.

And if you're looking for more detailed explanations of verbs of movement or other related expressions, consulting a reputable online dictionary like WordReference or Larousse can provide valuable insights and examples.

I hope this article has provided you with a solid foundation for saying 'come here' in French. Mastering these common phrases is a great step towards more confident and natural communication in French!

9 ways to say "come here" in French