"To be able to" is a fundamental concept in any language, and French is no exception. Most French learners quickly encounter the verb "pouvoir" to express this idea. But what if I told you there are many more nuanced and interesting ways to convey this meaning?

As you advance in your French journey, you'll find that having a richer vocabulary for expressing ability can make your conversations more natural and sophisticated.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "to be able to" in French, beyond just "pouvoir"!

The standard 'to be able to' – pouvoir

The standard 'to be able to' – pouvoir

The French verb pouvoir is the most common and versatile way to express 'to be able to' or 'can' in English. It's an irregular verb, making its conjugation important to learn.

Here's the present tense conjugation of pouvoir:

• Je peux (I can/am able to)
• Tu peux (You can/are able to - informal singular)
• Il/Elle/On peut (He/She/One can/is able to)
• Nous pouvons (We can/are able to)
• Vous pouvez (You can/are able to - formal singular or plural)
• Ils/Elles peuvent (They can/are able to)

Pouvoir is always followed by an infinitive verb (the unconjugated form of a verb ending in -er, -ir, or -re) to complete its meaning. For example, Je peux nager (I can swim).

Its primary function is to indicate physical or mental ability, skill, or capacity to do something. It directly translates to 'can' or 'to be able to'.

Pouvoir can also be used to ask for or grant permission, similar to 'may' or 'to be allowed to' in English. It's often used in questions.

Beyond ability and permission, pouvoir can convey possibility or likelihood. In this sense, it means 'it is possible to' or 'it might happen'.

You'll frequently encounter pouvoir in common expressions like:

• Ça se peut (That's possible / It can happen)
• On peut dire que... (One can say that...)
• Je n'en peux plus (I can't take it anymore / I'm exhausted)

For polite requests, especially in formal settings, the conditional form pourriez-vous (Could you?) or the inversion Puis-je...? (May I...?) are often preferred over the simple present tense.

Pouvoir is an indispensable verb in French, covering a wide range of meanings from simple ability to nuanced permission and possibility. Mastering its conjugations and various uses will significantly enhance your French communication.

💡 * Je peux parler français. (I can speak French.)

• Pouvez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you help me, please?)
• Elle ne peut pas venir ce soir. (She can't come tonight.)
• Nous pouvons aller au cinéma si tu veux. (We can go to the cinema if you want.)
• Il se peut qu'il pleuve demain. (It might rain tomorrow.)

The formal 'to be capable of' – être capable de

The formal ‘to be capable of’ – être capable de

The French phrase être capable de directly translates to “to be capable of” or “to be able to.” It signifies possessing the skill, strength, or potential required to perform an action.

While the verb pouvoir (to be able to, can) is more common and versatile for general ability or permission, être capable de carries a more formal and emphatic tone. It highlights an inherent ability, potential, or specific capacity, implying a deeper competence rather than just a simple possibility or permission.

Its structure is straightforward: you conjugate the verb être (to be) according to the subject, followed by capable de, and then an infinitive verb. For instance, Il est capable de parler cinq langues (He is capable of speaking five languages).

This construction is particularly useful when you want to emphasize someone's skill, competence, or potential, especially in professional, academic, or more serious contexts. It suggests a proven or strong ability rather than just a fleeting possibility, making it ideal for discussions of qualifications or inherent talent.

💡 * Elle est capable de résoudre des problèmes complexes. (She is capable of solving complex problems.)

• Nous sommes capables d'apprendre rapidement. (We are capable of learning quickly.)
• Es-tu capable de courir un marathon ? (Are you capable of running a marathon?)
• Ils ne sont pas capables de gérer cette situation. (They are not capable of handling this situation.)
• Je suis capable de faire ça tout seul. (I am capable of doing that by myself.)

The 'to have the capacity to' – avoir la capacité de

While pouvoir is the most common way to say 'can' or 'to be able to' in French, sometimes you'll encounter the phrase avoir la capacité de. This literally translates to 'to have the capacity of'.

This phrase is used to emphasize an inherent or acquired ability, skill, or potential to do something. It highlights the capacity rather than just the simple ability or permission.

The key difference between avoir la capacité de and pouvoir lies in emphasis. Pouvoir (to be able to/can) is more general, covering possibility, permission, and simple ability. Avoir la capacité de specifically stresses the capability or potential that someone or something possesses.

The construction is straightforward: conjugate the verb avoir (to have) according to the subject, followed by la capacité de, and then an infinitive verb. For example: J'ai la capacité de courir un marathon (I have the capacity to run a marathon).

This phrase carries a slightly more formal or technical tone compared to pouvoir. You might find it in professional, scientific, or more formal discussions where precision about capability is important.

It's often used when discussing the potential of a machine, a system, an organization, or an individual's specific skill set. Think of situations where 'capable of' or 'has the potential to' fits well.

For everyday expressions of 'can' or 'to be able to,' pouvoir remains the go-to verb. Use avoir la capacité de when you specifically want to highlight the underlying potential or inherent capability.

💡 * Cet ordinateur a la capacité de traiter de grandes quantités de données. (This computer has the capacity to process large amounts of data.)

• Elle a la capacité de s'adapter rapidement à de nouvelles situations. (She has the capacity to adapt quickly to new situations.)
• L'entreprise a la capacité de doubler sa production en un an. (The company has the capacity to double its production in one year.)
• Nous avons la capacité de résoudre ce problème complexe. (We have the capacity to solve this complex problem.)
• Un enfant a la capacité d'apprendre plusieurs langues. (A child has the capacity to learn several languages.)

The 'to know how to' (implying ability) – savoir

The French verb savoir translates directly to 'to know how to' or 'to have the ability to do something'. It's fundamental for expressing skills, knowledge, and capabilities.

When expressing an ability, savoir is always followed by an infinitive verb. For example, savoir nager (to know how to swim) or savoir cuisiner (to know how to cook).

Beyond just 'knowing how to', savoir also means 'to know a fact or piece of information'. This differentiates it from connaître, which means to be familiar with a person, place, or thing.

To clarify, use savoir for knowledge (facts, information, skills), and connaître for familiarity (people, places, objects). For instance, Je sais que tu es là (I know that you are here - a fact) versus Je connais Paris (I know Paris - I'm familiar with it).

💡 * Je sais nager. (I know how to swim.)

• Elle sait parler français. (She knows how to speak French.)
• Nous savons où il habite. (We know where he lives.)
• Tu ne sais pas ce que tu fais. (You don't know what you're doing.)
• Savez-vous quand le magasin ouvre? (Do you know when the store opens?)

The 'to be in a position to' – être en mesure de

The 'to be in a position to' – être en mesure de

The expression être en mesure de directly translates to 'to be in a position to' or 'to be able to'. It signifies having the capacity, means, or authority to do something.

This phrase is generally more formal and precise than simply using pouvoir ('can'). It implies that the conditions are met, or the resources are available, for an action to be taken.

It is always followed by an infinitive verb, indicating the action one is able to perform. The structure is: subject + être conjugué + en mesure de + infinitif.

While pouvoir can imply general ability or permission, être en mesure de specifically emphasizes having the means, opportunity, or readiness to act. It's often used in professional, administrative, or more serious contexts.

Use être en mesure de when you want to convey a sense of preparedness, capability, or when external factors allow for an action to happen, rather than just a simple 'can'.

💡 * Nous serons en mesure de livrer le projet à temps.

• Êtes-vous en mesure de confirmer votre présence ?
• La police n'était pas en mesure d'intervenir immédiatement.
• Je ne suis pas en mesure de vous donner cette information pour l'instant.

The 'to have the possibility to' – avoir la possibilité de

The French phrase avoir la possibilité de directly translates to "to have the possibility to" or "to have the opportunity to." It's used to express that someone has the option, means, or chance to do something, often emphasizing a specific circumstance or permission rather than just a general ability.

While pouvoir (to be able to, can) is a common verb for expressing ability, avoir la possibilité de offers a more formal or explicit way to state that an opportunity or option exists. It implies a condition or circumstance that allows for an action, making it slightly more specific than pouvoir.

The structure is straightforward: conjugate the verb avoir according to the subject, followed by the fixed phrase la possibilité de, and then an infinitive verb. For example, "J'ai la possibilité de voyager" (I have the possibility to travel).

Remember that pouvoir generally means "can" or "to be able to" and refers to a more inherent ability or general permission. Avoir la possibilité de, on the other hand, highlights the existence of an opportunity or a specific set of circumstances that allow for an action. Choose this phrase when you want to emphasize the option or chance.

💡 * J'ai la possibilité de voyager en France l'été prochain. (I have the possibility to travel to France next summer.)

• Nous avons la possibilité de choisir notre horaire de travail. (We have the possibility to choose our work schedule.)
• Est-ce que tu as la possibilité de me rappeler plus tard ? (Do you have the possibility to call me back later?)
• Ils n'ont pas la possibilité de participer à la réunion. (They don't have the possibility to participate in the meeting.)
• Si j'avais la possibilité de changer quelque chose, ce serait ça. (If I had the possibility to change something, it would be that.)

The 'to be fit for' – être apte à

The French expression être apte à translates to 'to be fit for,' 'to be capable of,' or 'to be qualified to' in English. It signifies suitability or readiness for a particular task, role, or action.

This phrase is typically followed by an infinitive verb or a noun. When followed by an infinitive, it means 'to be capable of doing something.' When followed by a noun, it means 'to be suitable for something.'

Être apte à often carries a slightly more formal or official tone than simpler alternatives like pouvoir (can) or être capable de (to be capable of). It implies a verified or assessed fitness.

💡 * Elle est apte à occuper ce poste. (She is fit/qualified to hold this position.)

• Le chien n'est pas apte à la reproduction. (The dog is not fit for breeding.)
• Es-tu apte à travailler sous pression ? (Are you capable of working under pressure?)
• Après sa convalescence, il sera apte à reprendre le sport. (After his recovery, he will be fit to resume sports.)
• Ce matériel n'est pas apte à une utilisation intensive. (This equipment is not suitable for intensive use.)

The 'to succeed in doing something' – réussir à

The French verb réussir à means 'to succeed in doing something' or 'to manage to do something.' It's a crucial phrase for expressing accomplishment in a specific task.

The key element here is the preposition à, which directly precedes an infinitive verb. This structure is essential when you want to specify what someone succeeded in doing. For example, réussir à faire (to succeed in doing).

It's important to distinguish réussir à from réussir used alone. While réussir by itself generally means 'to succeed' or 'to be successful' (e.g., Il a réussi dans la vie - He succeeded in life), réussir à specifically indicates success in performing an action.

This construction is frequently used in everyday conversation to talk about overcoming challenges, achieving goals, or simply managing to do something that required effort.

💡 *Elle a réussi à ouvrir la porte. (She succeeded in opening the door.)
*Nous avons réussi à finir le projet à temps. (We managed to finish the project on time.)
*Tu vas réussir à apprendre le français ! (You're going to succeed in learning French!)
*Ils n'ont pas réussi à trouver la solution. (They didn't succeed in finding the solution.)

The 'to manage to' – parvenir à

To express the idea of 'to manage to,' 'to succeed in,' or 'to reach' a goal in French, the verb parvenir à is a key phrase. It often implies a successful outcome after some effort or difficulty, carrying a slightly more formal or literary tone than simpler alternatives.

The construction of parvenir à is straightforward: it's always followed by the preposition à. You can either use parvenir à + an infinitive verb (e.g., parvenir à faire) or parvenir à + a noun (e.g., parvenir à un accord).

When conjugating parvenir in compound tenses, such as the passé composé, it always uses the auxiliary verb être. For example, 'I managed' becomes je suis parvenu(e), requiring agreement with the subject (e.g., parvenu for masculine, parvenue for feminine).

Parvenir à often suggests that the achievement was not effortless. It implies overcoming an obstacle, reaching a specific point, or successfully completing a task that required some degree of effort or perseverance. While it can sometimes be interchangeable with réussir à (to succeed in), parvenir à often carries a stronger sense of having 'arrived' at a destination or outcome after a journey or struggle.

💡 *Nous sommes parvenus à un accord après de longues négociations. (We managed to reach an agreement after long negotiations.)
*Elle est parvenue à résoudre le problème complexe. (She managed to solve the complex problem.)
*Malgré les difficultés, ils sont parvenus à temps. (Despite the difficulties, they managed to arrive on time.)
*J'espère parvenir à mes objectifs avant la fin de l'année. (I hope to manage to reach my goals before the end of the year.)
*Comment as-tu fait pour parvenir à cette conclusion? (How did you manage to arrive at this conclusion?)

Are there other ways to say 'to be able to' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to be able to” in French?

While pouvoir is the most common and versatile verb for expressing ability in French, the language, like any other, offers a rich tapestry of expressions to convey similar meanings with different nuances. Our list focuses on the core usage, but French is full of subtle ways to express capability, potential, or permission.

To delve deeper, you can also do an online search for 'synonymes de pouvoir' or 'autres façons de dire pouvoir en français' to explore more specialized or idiomatic expressions. Be aware that many alternatives might carry slightly different connotations or be used in specific contexts.

When you encounter new expressions for 'to be able to,' pay close attention to their context. Not every synonym is interchangeable with pouvoir. Always check a word's definition and observe how native speakers use it before incorporating it into your own speech.

As you immerse yourself in French media—reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts—you'll naturally pick up on these variations. Listen for how ability, possibility, and permission are expressed in different situations; it's a great way to expand your vocabulary beyond the basics.

For a comprehensive look at pouvoir and its related expressions, the WordReference entry for pouvoir is an excellent starting point. It provides conjugations, definitions, and numerous example sentences to illustrate its diverse uses.

I hope this article has clarified the nuances of 'to be able to' in French. Remember, mastering these distinctions empowers you to communicate with greater precision and fluency. As the French proverb says: Vouloir, c'est pouvoir. (To want to, is to be able to. / Where there's a will, there's a way.)