The most direct translation for 'to control' in French is contrôler. It's a useful verb, but relying on it for every situation can make your French sound a bit repetitive. Just like in English, where you might say 'manage', 'oversee', 'master', or 'dominate', French has a rich vocabulary to express different shades of control.

Learning these alternatives will not only expand your vocabulary but also help you sound more like a native speaker by choosing the perfect word for the right context.

Ready to take charge of your French skills? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'to control' in French!

The standard 'to control' or 'to check' – contrôler

The verb contrôler is a common French verb that can be tricky for English speakers. While it looks like it should only mean 'to control,' it has a second, very frequent meaning: 'to check' or 'to inspect'.

In its most straightforward sense, contrôler does mean 'to control,' 'to manage,' or 'to be in command of' something. This usage is a direct cognate and aligns perfectly with the English meaning.

Example: Il faut contrôler la situation. (We must control the situation.)

More often in everyday conversation, contrôler is used to mean 'to check,' 'to verify,' or 'to inspect.' This is a classic faux ami (false friend). When a conductor on a train asks for your ticket, they want to contrôler votre billet (check your ticket), not take control of it.

The noun form, le contrôle, also carries this dual meaning. It can mean 'control' (as in perdre le contrôle - to lose control) or it can refer to an 'inspection,' a 'check,' or even a 'test' or 'quiz' in a school setting (un contrôle de maths - a math test).

Discerning the correct meaning depends entirely on the context. If the sentence is about authority, power, or management, it likely means 'to control.' If it's about verification, documents, or quality assurance, it almost always means 'to check.'

Fortunately, contrôler is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation predictable. It follows the same pattern as common verbs like parler (to speak) or aimer (to like).

💡 * Le mécanicien doit contrôler les freins de la voiture.

• Le gouvernement a mis en place de nouvelles mesures pour contrôler l'immigration.
• J'ai un contrôle de français demain et je n'ai pas révisé !
• Elle a du mal à contrôler sa colère quand elle est fatiguée.
• Avant de partir, contrôle que tu as bien tes clés.

The 'to master' or 'to have a handle on' – maîtriser

A key verb for expressing proficiency and control in French is maîtriser.

At its core, maîtriser translates to 'to master,' 'to have a command of,' or 'to control.' It signifies a high level of skill, deep knowledge, or dominance over a situation or subject. It’s a powerful verb that implies more than just basic understanding.

You'll frequently use maîtriser when discussing abilities, languages, or academic subjects. Saying you maîtrise le français is a much stronger statement than saying you parle français. It suggests fluency and a deep, comprehensive command of the language.

Beyond skills, maîtriser is also used to mean 'to control' or 'to handle' a situation, an emotion, or even a vehicle. For example, a person might learn to maîtriser sa colère (control their anger), or a pilot must maîtriser son avion (be in full control of their plane).

While savoir means 'to know how' and connaître means 'to be familiar with,' maîtriser sits at the top of the hierarchy. You might connaître a topic for an exam, but a professor maîtrise the subject. This distinction is key to using the verb correctly and sounding like a native speaker.

Fortunately for learners, maîtriser is a regular -er verb, which means it follows the standard, predictable conjugation patterns. In the present tense, it's je maîtrise, tu maîtrises, il/elle maîtrise, etc.

💡 * Il faut des années pour bien maîtriser un instrument de musique.

• Les pompiers ont finalement maîtrisé l'incendie.
• Elle maîtrise parfaitement l'art de la négociation.
• Pour ce poste, il faut maîtriser au moins deux langues étrangères.

The 'to manage' or 'to handle' – gérer

A highly versatile and common verb in French is gérer, which translates most directly to ‘to manage’ or ‘to handle’.

At its core, gérer implies having control over a situation, a resource, or a process. It's about organization, administration, and dealing with something effectively.

In a professional setting, gérer is essential. You can use it to talk about managing a team (gérer une équipe), a project (gérer un projet), or a budget (gérer un budget).

The verb is just as useful in everyday life. You might need to manage your stress (gérer son stress), your time (gérer son temps), or your personal finances (gérer ses finances).

Gérer is a regular -er verb, but watch out for a small spelling change to keep the 'g' sound soft. For example, in the nous form, an 'e' is added before the '-ons' ending: nous gérons.

The related noun is la gestion, which means ‘management’ or ‘administration’. This is a key term in business and organizational contexts.

💡 * Il doit gérer une équipe de dix personnes. (He has to manage a team of ten people.)

• J'apprends à mieux gérer mon temps pour être plus productif. (I am learning to better manage my time to be more productive.)
• Elle a du mal à gérer son stress avant les examens. (She has a hard time handling her stress before exams.)
• La gestion de ce projet est très complexe. (The management of this project is very complex.)

The 'to direct' or 'to lead' – diriger

The versatile French verb diriger translates to 'to direct,' 'to lead,' or 'to manage' in English, carrying a sense of guidance and control.

Its most common use is in a professional or organizational context. You can use diriger when talking about running a company, managing a team, or leading a project. It implies being in charge and making key decisions.

Diriger also refers to the physical act of guiding or pointing something or someone. The reflexive form, se diriger vers, is frequently used to mean 'to head towards' or 'to make one's way to' a specific location.

Diriger is a regular -er verb, but it has a small spelling change to preserve the soft 'g' sound. In the nous form of the present tense, it becomes nous dirigeons (we direct).

💡 * Elle dirige une équipe de dix personnes. (She manages a team of ten people.)

• Le réalisateur dirige les acteurs sur le plateau. (The director directs the actors on set.)
• Nous nous dirigeons vers le centre-ville. (We are heading towards the city center.)
• Pouvez-vous me diriger vers la station de métro la plus proche ? (Can you direct me to the nearest metro station?)

The 'to regulate' or 'to adjust' – réguler

The French verb réguler directly translates to 'to regulate,' 'to adjust,' or 'to control.' It is a versatile verb primarily used in formal, technical, or scientific contexts to describe the act of maintaining a system in a stable and proper state.

One of its most common applications is in a technical or mechanical sense. You can use réguler when talking about adjusting a machine or a process to ensure it functions correctly. For example, réguler un moteur (to adjust an engine) or réguler le thermostat (to regulate the thermostat).

In a more abstract sense, réguler is crucial in economic and legal discussions. It refers to the implementation of rules or laws by an authority to control an industry or market. For instance, a government's role is often to réguler les marchés financiers (regulate the financial markets).

Réguler also applies to biological and natural systems. The human body, for example, is constantly working to réguler sa température corporelle (regulate its body temperature) or its blood sugar levels.

Grammatically, réguler is a regular -er verb. This means it follows the standard conjugation pattern for this group, making it straightforward for learners. The present tense conjugation is: je régule, tu régules, il/elle/on régule, nous régulons, vous régulez, ils/elles régulent.

💡 * Le technicien est venu pour réguler le chauffage central.

• L'Union Européenne impose des normes pour réguler la pêche.
• Il est important de bien s'hydrater pour aider le corps à réguler sa température.
• Un barrage a été construit pour réguler le débit de la rivière.

The 'to dominate' or 'to overpower' – dominer

The French verb dominer is a direct and versatile equivalent for the English "to dominate." It can mean to rule over, control, overpower, or be in a position of authority or prominence. As a regular -er verb, its conjugation is straightforward, making it easy to use once you understand its contexts.

One of the most common uses of dominer is in contexts of power, competition, and conflict. This applies to sports, politics, and business. For example, you can say a team dominates a game or a company dominates the market. It implies a clear superiority over an opponent or competitor.

A crucial meaning of dominer is to physically overlook or tower above something. A skyscraper can dominer la ville (dominate the city's skyline), or a castle can dominer la vallée (overlook the valley). In this sense, it describes a high vantage point and a commanding physical presence.

Beyond physical or competitive contexts, dominer can also describe abstract or emotional influence. An emotion like fear can dominer someone's thoughts, or a single topic can dominer a conversation. This usage highlights something that is the most prevalent or controlling element in a non-physical situation.

💡 * L'équipe locale a complètement dominé le match de football.

• Du haut de la colline, le vieux château domine toute la région.
• Il ne faut pas laisser la colère dominer vos décisions.
• Cette entreprise domine le marché des nouvelles technologies.

The 'to command' or 'to be in charge of' – commander

The French verb commander primarily means 'to command,' 'to order,' or 'to be in charge of.' It is used in contexts of authority, such as a military officer commanding their troops or a manager giving instructions.

In daily conversation, commander is most frequently used to mean 'to order' goods or services. This is the verb you would use to order food in a restaurant, a coffee at a café, or an item online.

Commander is a regular -er verb, which means it follows a standard and predictable conjugation pattern, making it straightforward for learners to master in various tenses.

💡 * Le capitaine commande le navire. (The captain is in command of the ship.)

• J'aimerais commander une pizza, s'il vous plaît. (I would like to order a pizza, please.)
• Elle a commandé une nouvelle robe en ligne. (She ordered a new dress online.)
• Qui commande ici ? (Who is in charge here?)

The 'to supervise' or 'to oversee' – superviser

The 'to supervise' or 'to oversee' – superviser

The verb superviser is a direct and straightforward cognate of the English 'to supervise.' It means to oversee, manage, or direct a project, a task, or a group of people, typically in a professional or official setting.

This verb implies a position of authority and responsibility. It's used when someone is in charge of monitoring the progress and quality of work performed by others. You'll often hear it in business, construction, and academic contexts.

Good news for learners: superviser is a regular -er verb. This means it follows the standard conjugation pattern, making it easy to use in various tenses once you know the rules for verbs like parler.

💡 * Le chef de projet doit superviser toute l'équipe. (The project manager must supervise the whole team.)

• Elle supervise la construction du nouvel immeuble. (She is overseeing the construction of the new building.)
• Qui va superviser les examens de fin d'année ? (Who is going to supervise the end-of-year exams?)

1. 'To Restrain' or 'To Hold Back': Retenir vs. Contenir

When you need to express the idea of 'holding back' or 'restraining' in French, two essential verbs come to mind: retenir and contenir. Both stem from the verb tenir ('to hold'), but they are used in distinct contexts to convey different nuances of 'holding'.

The verb retenir primarily means 'to hold back', 'to keep', 'to retain', or 'to remember'. It implies preventing something or someone from moving, leaving, or being forgotten. Think of it as actively stopping an action or keeping something with you. For example, you can retenir quelqu'un (hold someone back), retenir une information (remember a piece of information), or retenir sa respiration (hold one's breath).

The verb contenir, on the other hand, means 'to contain' or 'to hold within'. It refers to the contents of a space or the control of an emotion inside oneself. It focuses on what is held inside a boundary. For example, a box can contenir des livres (contain books), and a person can struggle to contenir sa colère (contain their anger).

The simplest way to differentiate them is by action vs. capacity. Use retenir when describing the action of stopping or keeping something. Use contenir when describing the capacity of something to hold items or emotions within it.

💡 * La police a dû retenir la foule pour éviter un accident. (The police had to hold back the crowd to avoid an accident.)

• J'ai du mal à retenir son numéro de téléphone. (I have a hard time remembering his phone number.)
• Cette valise peut contenir jusqu'à 20 kilos. (This suitcase can contain up to 20 kilos.)
• Il a eu du mal à contenir son enthousiasme. (He had a hard time containing his enthusiasm.)
• Le barrage a été construit pour retenir l'eau de la rivière. (The dam was built to hold back the river water.)

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

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

Our guide features the most common and essential verbs for 'to control' in French, such as contrôler, maîtriser, and gérer. But the French language, with its precision, offers many other terms for specific situations, from technical jargon to expressions of emotional restraint.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for 'synonyme de contrôler' or by looking up specific contexts, like 'comment dire to control a vehicle en français'.

When you find a new synonym, always check its definition and look for example sentences. The nuances between verbs like diriger (to direct), gérer (to manage), and dominer (to dominate) are important for sounding like a native speaker.

Pay attention to how control is expressed when you read French news, watch movies, or listen to podcasts. You'll start to notice the subtle differences and gain a more intuitive understanding of which verb to use.

If you want to explore the fine distinctions between different verbs related to control, the Larousse or WordReference online dictionaries are excellent resources. They often provide synonyms and contextual examples.

I hope this article helps you feel more in control of your French vocabulary. To conclude, here is a fitting proverb: Celui qui est le maître de lui-même est plus grand que celui qui est le maître du monde. (He who is master of himself is greater than he who is master of the world.)