When you think of "power" in French, the word pouvoir probably comes to mind. While that's a great start, the concept of power is vast and nuanced, and French has a rich vocabulary to match!

Just like in English, the right word depends on whether you're talking about physical strength, political authority, or the ability to do something.

Ready to make your French sound more precise and authoritative? Let's explore 9 powerful ways to talk about "power"!

2. The general term for 'power' or 'ability' – le pouvoir

Le pouvoir is the most common and versatile French term for 'power'. It's a fundamental word because it functions as both a noun (power) and a verb (to be able to/can).

As a noun, le pouvoir (masculine) translates directly to 'power,' 'authority,' or 'control.' It's used in contexts ranging from politics to personal influence.

You'll frequently encounter it in common phrases like le pouvoir politique (political power), le pouvoir d'achat (purchasing power), or in expressions like l'abus de pouvoir (abuse of power).

As a verb, pouvoir is one of the most essential modal verbs in French. It means 'to be able to,' 'can,' or 'may,' and it expresses ability, possibility, or permission.

Grammatically, the verb pouvoir is almost always followed by another verb in its infinitive (unconjugated) form. For example, Je peux parler means 'I can speak.'

Unlike the sometimes strict distinction between 'can' (ability) and 'may' (permission) in English, pouvoir conveniently covers both. Puis-je entrer ? ('May I come in?') asks for permission, while Il peut courir vite ('He can run fast') states an ability. Context makes the meaning clear.

Remember that pouvoir is an irregular verb, so its conjugation doesn't follow a standard pattern. The present tense, for example, is je peux, tu peux, il/elle/on peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils/elles peuvent.

💡 * Le président a beaucoup de pouvoir. (The president has a lot of power.)

• Je ne peux pas venir à la fête ce soir. (I can't come to the party tonight.)
• Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ? (May I ask you a question?)
• Avec la technologie, nous pouvons communiquer instantanément. (With technology, we are able to communicate instantly.)
• Le pouvoir des mots est immense. (The power of words is immense.)

The term for 'might' or 'strength' – la puissance

The term for 'might' or 'strength' – la puissance

La puissance is a powerful French noun that translates to 'power,' 'might,' 'strength,' or 'force.' Unlike the more common la force, which often refers to physical strength, la puissance typically implies a greater, more inherent, or more abstract capability.

In its most common usage, la puissance describes abstract concepts like political, economic, or military influence. For example, when discussing global affairs, one might refer to a nation as a grande puissance (a great power). It speaks to a country's overall influence and capability on the world stage.

The term is also essential in technical and mechanical fields. It is used to describe the output of an engine (la puissance d'un moteur), the wattage of a lightbulb, or the processing power of a computer. In this sense, it's the direct equivalent of 'power' in English technical jargon.

Interestingly, la puissance has a specific meaning in mathematics, where it translates to 'exponent' or 'power'. For instance, 'ten to the power of three' (10³) is expressed as dix puissance trois.

Figuratively, la puissance can describe the intensity or force of an emotion, an argument, or an artistic work. A piece of music could have an incredible puissance émotionnelle (emotional power), capturing its profound impact on the listener.

💡 * La puissance économique de la Chine a grandi rapidement.

• Le moteur de cette voiture a une puissance de 300 chevaux.
• Il a parlé avec une grande puissance de conviction.
• Cinq puissance deux égale vingt-cinq. (5² = 25)
• La puissance des vagues était impressionnante pendant la tempête.

The word for 'force' or 'strength' – la force

One of the most direct and common ways to talk about 'force' or 'strength' in French is with the noun la force.

La force is a feminine noun that translates directly to both 'force' and 'strength'. Its meaning can be either literal, referring to physical power, or figurative, referring to mental or moral strength.

In a physical context, la force refers to muscular power or the power of natural elements. For example, you might talk about la force d'un athlète (an athlete's strength) or la force du vent (the force of the wind).

Figuratively, it's used to describe inner strength, willpower, or influence. You could speak of la force de caractère (strength of character) or la force d'un argument (the strength of an argument).

You'll often encounter la force in common expressions. A famous pop culture example is Que la Force soit avec toi (May the Force be with you). Another useful phrase is à force de, which means 'by dint of' or 'through repeated action', like À force de pratiquer, il est devenu expert (By dint of practicing, he became an expert).

💡 * Il a une force incroyable. (He has incredible strength.)

• La force du vent a cassé la branche. (The force of the wind broke the branch.)
• Elle a trouvé la force de surmonter cette épreuve. (She found the strength to overcome this ordeal.)
• C'est la force de l'habitude. (It's the force of habit.)

The 'authority' or 'legitimate power' – l'autorité

The 'authority' or 'legitimate power' – l'autorité

L'autorité refers to the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It's a formal term often associated with institutions, expertise, or figures of power like parents or government officials.

As a noun, autorité is feminine. Because it starts with a vowel, it uses the elided article l' instead of la, becoming l'autorité (the authority).

It is commonly used in phrases like l'autorité parentale (parental authority), abuser de son autorité (to abuse one's authority), or to describe an expert who fait autorité (is an authority) in their field.

💡 * Le professeur a de l'autorité sur ses élèves. (The teacher has authority over his students.)

• Il a parlé avec une grande autorité. (He spoke with great authority.)
• Les parents doivent exercer leur autorité parentale. (Parents must exercise their parental authority.)
• C'est une experte qui fait autorité dans son domaine. (She is an expert who is an authority in her field.)

The 'influence' or 'sway' – l'influence

The word for "influence" or "sway" in French is l'influence.

As a direct cognate, l'influence (feminine noun) describes the power to affect someone's character, beliefs, or actions. It is a standard term used across all registers, from formal political discussions to casual conversations about social dynamics.

Being a feminine noun, it's always paired with feminine articles and adjectives, such as une grande influence (a great influence) or l'influence positive (the positive influence).

Two essential phrases to learn are avoir de l'influence sur (to have influence on/over) and être sous l'influence de (to be under the influence of).

In today's digital world, the term is central to social media. A social media "influencer" is called an influenceur (masculine) or an influenceuse (feminine) in French.

💡 * Son père a beaucoup d'influence sur ses décisions.

• L'influence de la météo sur notre humeur est bien connue.
• Il ne faut pas conduire sous l'influence de l'alcool.
• Cette influenceuse a des millions d'abonnés sur Instagram.

The 'control' or 'command' – le contrôle

The French word le contrôle is a direct cognate of the English 'control,' but its application is significantly broader. While it does mean 'control' in the general sense, it also commonly refers to checks, inspections, and academic tests, making context essential for understanding its meaning.

In its most basic sense, le contrôle is used just like in English to describe power, influence, or restraint over something. Common phrases include perdre le contrôle (to lose control), garder le contrôle (to keep control), or avoir le contrôle de la situation (to have control of the situation).

A very frequent use of le contrôle is for official verifications. For example, un contrôle de police or un contrôle routier is a police or traffic check. On a train, you'll undergo un contrôle des billets (a ticket inspection). This meaning is crucial for everyday life and travel in France.

In an academic context, un contrôle is the standard term for a test or quiz. A teacher will announce un contrôle de mathématiques for a math test. While similar to un examen, un contrôle often refers to a smaller, more regular assessment during the semester.

It's important not to confuse le contrôle with la commande. While 'control' and 'command' can be related in English, la commande in French means 'an order' (at a restaurant or for a product) or the 'controls' of a machine (like a remote control, la télécommande). Le contrôle is about verification and mastery, not placing an order.

💡 * Le conducteur a perdu le contrôle de son véhicule.

• J'ai un contrôle d'histoire demain matin.
• Veuillez préparer votre billet pour le contrôle.
• Les manifestants sont sortis de tout contrôle.

The 'domination' or 'mastery' – la domination

The French noun la domination translates to 'domination,' 'mastery,' or 'control.' As a feminine noun, it is always preceded by feminine articles like la or une.

This term is primarily used to describe power, influence, or superiority in a specific context, such as in sports, politics, or social dynamics. It implies a clear power imbalance where one entity has significant control over another.

While la domination can mean 'mastery,' the word la maîtrise is more commonly used when referring to the command of a skill or subject in a neutral way (e.g., la maîtrise d'une langue - mastery of a language). Use la domination to emphasize power and control.

💡 * L'équipe a montré sa domination tout au long du match. (The team showed its domination throughout the game.)

• Son livre analyse la domination économique des grandes entreprises. (His book analyzes the economic domination of large companies.)
• Il cherche à établir sa domination sur ses rivaux. (He is trying to establish his domination over his rivals.)

The 'political power' or 'reign' – le régime

The 'political power' or 'reign' – le régime

In a political context, le régime refers to a system of government, a form of rule, or a particular political administration. It describes the structure and principles by which a state is governed. A classic historical example is l'Ancien Régime, which refers to the political and social system in France before the Revolution of 1789.

While le régime can be a neutral term for a system of government, it often carries a specific, sometimes negative, connotation, implying an authoritarian or undemocratic rule. For instance, you might hear about un régime totalitaire (a totalitarian regime) or un régime militaire (a military regime). It's more specific and often more loaded than the general term le gouvernement (the government).

Be careful! One of the most common meanings of le régime outside of politics is 'a diet' (for health or weight loss). The context will almost always make the meaning clear. For example, faire un régime means 'to be on a diet'.

💡 * Le régime en place a restreint la liberté de la presse. (The ruling regime has restricted freedom of the press.)

• Elle étudie la chute de l'Ancien Régime en France. (She is studying the fall of the Ancien Régime in France.)
• Après les vacances, je commence un régime pour manger plus sainement. (After the holidays, I'm starting a diet to eat healthier.)
• C'est un régime politique très autoritaire. (It's a very authoritarian political regime.)

1. The 'hold' or 'grip' on someone – l'emprise

The French noun l'emprise (feminine) literally translates to 'grip' or 'hold.' However, it's most often used figuratively to describe a powerful, and often negative, influence, control, or power that one person or thing has over another. Think of it as a psychological or emotional 'grip' that is difficult to escape.

The most common construction is avoir de l'emprise sur quelqu'un, which means 'to have a hold/influence on someone.' You can also find someone sous l'emprise de..., meaning 'under the influence/grip of...'. This structure is frequently used for substances like drugs or alcohol, or strong emotions.

This term is frequently used in contexts of manipulation, toxic relationships, cults, or addiction. It carries a much stronger and more profound weight than simple influence (l'influence) or control (le contrôle), as it implies a deep-seated psychological or emotional power that diminishes a person's free will.

💡 * Il a une forte emprise psychologique sur elle. (He has a strong psychological hold on her.)

• Le conducteur était sous l'emprise de l'alcool. (The driver was under the influence of alcohol.)
• Elle a mis des années à se libérer de son emprise. (It took her years to break free from his hold.)
• Cette secte maintient une emprise totale sur ses adeptes. (This cult maintains a total grip on its followers.)

Are there other ways to say 'power' in French?

Are there other ways to say “power” in French?

Our list features the most common and versatile ways to express “power” in French, from political authority to physical strength. However, French is a rich language with many other terms used in specific contexts, whether in literature, science, or everyday slang.

You can uncover more nuanced vocabulary by searching for “comment dire 'power' en français” followed by a specific field, like politique (politics) or physique (physics).

When you find a new synonym for pouvoir or puissance, always check its definition and observe its use in context. For instance, l'autorité (authority) is very different from la force (strength).

Pay attention as you read French news, watch historical dramas, or listen to political debates. You'll begin to notice the subtle differences in how power is discussed and described.

If you want to explore the different dimensions of power and related concepts in French, the Larousse dictionary entry for pouvoir is a great place to start your research.

I hope this article has proven helpful in your language studies. I'll leave you with this insightful quote from the French philosopher Montesquieu: Pour qu'on ne puisse abuser du pouvoir, il faut que, par la disposition des choses, le pouvoir arrête le pouvoir. (To prevent the abuse of power, it is necessary that by the very disposition of things, power should be a check to power.)