The English verb 'to check' is incredibly versatile, isn't it? You can check your email, check if the door is locked, or check a box on a form. When you want to translate this into French, you'll find there isn't one single verb that covers all these situations.

Instead, the French language uses a variety of specific verbs depending on the context. Mastering these nuances is a fantastic way to make your French sound more natural and precise.

So, let's dive in and explore 9 different ways to say 'to check' in French!

The standard 'to check' or 'to verify' – vérifier

Vérifier is the most direct and standard French verb for “to check” or “to verify.” It's a versatile word you'll encounter frequently in both written and spoken French.

The core idea of vérifier is to confirm the accuracy, truth, or condition of something. It implies a deliberate action to remove doubt. Whether you're checking facts, confirming a reservation, or making sure a machine is working, vérifier is your go-to verb.

Good news for learners: vérifier is a regular -er verb. This means it follows the most common conjugation pattern in French, making it easy to use in various tenses once you know the rules. For example, in the present tense: je vérifie, tu vérifies, il/elle vérifie, nous vérifions, vous vérifiez, ils/elles vérifient.

You will often use vérifier when dealing with information. This includes actions like checking your homework for mistakes, verifying an address, confirming a fact, or spell-checking a document (vérifier l'orthographe).

Beyond abstract information, vérifier is also used to check the physical state or functionality of things. For example, you would vérifier le niveau d'huile (check the oil level) in a car or vérifier si la porte est bien fermée (check if the door is properly closed).

It's important not to confuse vérifier with contrôler. While both can sometimes mean "to check," contrôler implies a more official inspection, a test, or an act of exerting control. For instance, you vérifier your answers, but a customs agent will contrôler your passport.

💡 * Pouvez-vous vérifier l'heure du train, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you check the train time, please?)

• J'ai vérifié mes e-mails ce matin, mais je n'ai rien reçu. (I checked my emails this morning, but I didn't receive anything.)
• Avant de partir en vacances, il faut vérifier la pression des pneus. (Before leaving on vacation, you must check the tire pressure.)
• Le professeur vérifie les devoirs de ses élèves. (The teacher checks his students' homework.)

The 'to inspect' or 'to control' – contrôler

The French verb contrôler is a classic example of a faux ami, or a "false friend." While it looks and sounds just like the English verb "to control," its most common usage often means something different, leading to frequent confusion for learners.

First, let's look at the meaning you already know. Contrôler can mean "to control" in the sense of having power over, managing, or dominating something. For example, you can contrôler une situation (control a situation) or contrôler ses émotions (control one's emotions).

More frequently in everyday French, contrôler means "to check," "to inspect," or "to verify." This is the meaning you'll encounter in contexts like travel, administration, and daily tasks. The person who checks your train ticket is called le contrôleur for this very reason.

Understanding the difference comes down to context. If the action involves verification or inspection, it means "to check." If it involves command or management, it means "to control." The object of the verb is your biggest clue: you check tickets (contrôler les billets), but you control a market (contrôler le marché).

To be clearer in your own speaking, you can use synonyms. For "to check," the verb vérifier is an excellent and unambiguous alternative. For "to control," you might use verbs like maîtriser (to master/have under control) or gérer (to manage).

💡 * Le policier contrôle les papiers du conducteur. (The police officer checks the driver's papers.)

• Il a du mal à contrôler sa colère. (He has a hard time controlling his anger.)
• N'oubliez pas de faire contrôler votre voiture avant le long trajet. (Don't forget to get your car inspected before the long trip.)
• Le contrôleur a contrôlé tous les billets dans le train. (The ticket inspector checked all the tickets on the train.)

The 'to examine' or 'to check closely' – examiner

The French verb examiner directly translates to 'to examine' or 'to check closely.' It implies a thorough, careful, and often formal inspection of something or someone.

At its heart, examiner involves a detailed and methodical observation to discover facts or assess a condition. It's more profound than simply regarder (to look at). Think of a scientist examining a sample or a detective examining a crime scene.

A primary use of examiner is in professional settings. A doctor will examiner un patient (examine a patient), and an engineer will examiner les plans (examine the blueprints). This context highlights the verb's association with expertise and scrutiny.

Logically connected to the noun un examen (an exam), the verb examiner is used for the act of testing or formally evaluating. For example, 'Le jury examine le candidat' (The panel examines the candidate).

Examiner is not limited to physical objects. It is frequently used for abstract concepts, such as to examiner un problème (examine a problem), examiner les options (examine the options), or examiner sa conscience (examine one's conscience).

For learners, examiner is a helpful verb as it is a regular -er verb. It follows the standard conjugation pattern, making it predictable to use in different tenses (e.g., j'examine, nous examinons, ils ont examiné).

💡 * Le médecin va vous examiner maintenant.

• Il faut examiner toutes les possibilités avant de décider.
• L'avocat a examiné le contrat avec attention.
• J'ai examiné ma conscience et je sais que j'ai bien agi.

The casual 'to check' or 'to have a look' – regarder

The verb regarder is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in French. It's the primary equivalent of 'to look at' or 'to watch,' making it essential for everyday conversation.

At its core, regarder describes the active and intentional act of directing your eyes toward something. You use it when you are consciously focusing your vision, such as when you regarder un film (watch a movie) or regarder par la fenêtre (look out the window).

In casual speech, regarder often takes on the meaning of 'to check' or 'to have a look.' For example, asking someone to regarder si la porte est fermée means asking them to 'check if the door is closed.' Similarly, Regarde ça ! is the perfect way to say 'Check this out!'

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between regarder and voir ('to see'). Remember that regarder is the action of looking, while voir is the result or the passive ability to perceive. You actively regarde the sky in order to voir the stars.

💡 * Regarde cette vidéo, elle est très drôle ! (Check out this video, it's hilarious!)

• Je vais regarder si le magasin est encore ouvert. (I'm going to check if the store is still open.)
• Nous aimons regarder le coucher du soleil. (We love to watch the sunset.)
• Peux-tu regarder ce que fait le bébé ? (Can you have a look at what the baby is doing?)

The 'to take a quick look' or 'to glance at' – jeter un coup d'œil

A common and essential French idiom for "to take a quick look" or "to glance at" is jeter un coup d'œil.

Literally, this phrase translates to "to throw a knock of the eye." This visual description helps capture the quick, brief nature of the action, making it easier to remember than a simple vocabulary word.

You can use jeter un coup d'œil in almost any situation where you would say "take a look," "glance," or "have a peek" in English. It is widely used and understood in both formal and informal settings, making it incredibly versatile.

The verb in the expression is jeter (to throw), which is conjugated normally. To specify what you are looking at, you follow the expression with the preposition à or sur. For example, you would say jeter un coup d'œil à un document (to glance at a document).

Incorporating jeter un coup d'œil into your vocabulary is a simple way to make your French sound more authentic and fluent. It's a high-frequency phrase you'll hear and use often.

💡 * Peux-tu jeter un coup d'œil à ce que j'ai écrit ? (Can you take a quick look at what I wrote?)

• Je vais jeter un coup d'œil sur les nouvelles avant de partir. (I'm going to glance at the news before leaving.)
• Elle a jeté un coup d'œil par la fenêtre pour voir qui arrivait. (She glanced out the window to see who was arriving.)
• Jette un coup d'œil à ce gâteau, il a l'air délicieux ! (Take a look at this cake, it looks delicious!)

The 'to consult' or 'to check a reference' – consulter

The French verb consulter is the most direct equivalent of the English verb 'to consult.' It is a regular -er verb and implies seeking out information, advice, or an opinion from an expert or an authoritative source. It carries a slightly more formal tone than its English counterpart might in casual use.

One of the most common uses of consulter is when referring to seeking advice from a professional. For example, you would say consulter un médecin (to consult a doctor), consulter un avocat (to consult a lawyer), or consulter un spécialiste (to consult a specialist).

Beyond people, consulter is the go-to verb for looking up information in reference materials. This is key for learners. You can consulter un dictionnaire (consult a dictionary), consulter un site web (consult a website), consulter un dossier (consult a file), or consulter les horaires (check the schedule).

While in English you might say 'check the website,' consulter implies a more thorough search for information than just a quick look. It's more formal than regarder (to look at) and more about information gathering than vérifier (to verify/check a specific fact).

💡 * Je vais consulter mon médecin demain matin. (I am going to consult my doctor tomorrow morning.)

• Avant de répondre, j'ai besoin de consulter mes notes. (Before answering, I need to consult my notes.)
• Vous pouvez consulter les horaires d'ouverture sur la porte. (You can check the opening hours on the door.)
• Pour ce mot, il faut consulter un dictionnaire spécialisé. (For this word, you must consult a specialized dictionary.)

The 'to make sure' – s'assurer (que)

To express the idea of “to make sure” or “to ensure” in French, you use the pronominal verb s'assurer. It's a versatile verb that signifies verifying, checking, or confirming information to remove any doubt.

Most commonly, s'assurer is followed by que (that), which introduces a subordinate clause. Because it expresses certainty after verification, the verb in the clause that follows is in the indicative mood, not the subjunctive. For example: Je m'assure que tu **as** ton billet (I'm making sure you have your ticket).

As a pronominal verb, you must always include the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) which agrees with the subject. For example: Il s'assure (He makes sure), Nous nous assurons (We make sure).

💡 * Je t'appelle pour m'assurer que tu vas bien. (I'm calling to make sure you are okay.)

• Assure-toi que la porte est bien fermée. (Make sure the door is closed properly.)
• Nous devons nous assurer que nous avons toutes les informations nécessaires. (We must ensure that we have all the necessary information.)
• Elle s'est assurée que les enfants dormaient avant de sortir. (She made sure the children were sleeping before going out.)

The 'to review' or 'to go over' – passer en revue

The French expression passer en revue translates literally to “to pass in review.” It is the go-to phrase when you mean “to review,” “to go over,” or “to survey” a series of items, options, or topics.

At its core, passer en revue means to examine or consider a collection of things systematically, one by one. This can apply to documents, lists, candidates, or even troops in a military context. It implies a comprehensive look rather than a deep dive into a single point.

While réviser also means “to review,” it is almost exclusively used for studying for an exam or revising a text. Use passer en revue when you are going over a presentation, discussing the points on an agenda, or considering all available options before making a choice.

💡 *Avant la réunion, nous devons passer en revue les points principaux de l'ordre du jour. (Before the meeting, we need to go over the main points of the agenda.)
*Le manager a passé en revue les performances de chaque employé. (The manager reviewed the performance of each employee.)
*Elle a passé en revue toutes les robes dans la boutique avant d'en choisir une. (She looked over all the dresses in the shop before choosing one.)

1. The Verb for 'To Check Off': Cocher

The most common and direct verb for saying 'to check off' in French, especially in the context of a list or a form, is cocher. It translates literally to 'to check,' 'to tick,' or 'to mark.'

You'll typically use cocher with an object, such as an item on a list or a box on a form. The common phrase cocher une case means 'to check a box.' When referring to a list, you can say cocher un élément sur la liste (to check an item off the list).

Fortunately, cocher is a regular -er verb, which means it follows the standard conjugation patterns, making it easy to use. For example, in the present tense: je coche, tu coches, il/elle/on coche, nous cochons, vous cochez, ils/elles cochent.

💡 * J'ai coché toutes les tâches sur ma liste de choses à faire. (I checked off all the tasks on my to-do list.)

• Veuillez cocher la case si vous acceptez les conditions. (Please check the box if you accept the conditions.)
• Peux-tu cocher les noms des invités qui sont déjà arrivés ? (Can you check off the names of the guests who have already arrived?)
• Il faut cocher chaque étape avant de continuer. (You must check off each step before continuing.)

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

So, are there other ways to say 'to check' in French?

Our guide has covered the most common and essential verbs like vérifier, contrôler, and consulter. However, French is a rich language with many contextual nuances. You'll find other terms in specific professional fields, regional dialects, or evolving slang that might not be on our list.

To discover more specific vocabulary, try searching online for phrases related to your interests, like “comment dire 'check the oil' en français” or “comment dire 'check a box' en français”. This will help you find the most natural-sounding verb for each situation.

When you encounter a new synonym, always pay attention to the context it's used in. A verb like examiner (to examine) might fit a medical check-up but would be out of place for simply checking the weather.

Listen carefully when you watch French films or series. You'll notice how characters use different words for 'check' depending on the situation. This is one of the best ways to absorb the subtle differences and improve your fluency.

If you want to explore more synonyms or related expressions, online dictionaries like WordReference and Reverso Context are excellent tools. Their example sentences and forum discussions provide a wealth of real-world usage.

We hope this article has been helpful in your French learning journey. The key to mastering words with multiple translations like 'to check' is to focus on context. By doing so, you'll not only select the right word but also sound more natural and confident. Bonne continuation !