Translating the English verb 'to let' into French can be surprisingly tricky. That's because 'to let' can mean 'to allow,' 'to rent,' or even 'to leave something alone.' French uses a different verb for each of these situations, and using the wrong one can lead to some confusing conversations!

But don't worry. In this guide, we'll break down 9 different ways to say 'to let' in French, complete with examples, so you'll always know which word to choose.

The standard 'to let' or 'to leave' – laisser

Laisser is a fundamental French verb that you'll encounter constantly. Its core meanings revolve around the concepts of “to leave” and “to let” or “to allow”. Mastering its usage is essential for sounding natural in French.

The first primary use of laisser is to mean to leave something or someone behind. This can be intentional (leaving a tip) or unintentional (forgetting your wallet). The focus is on the object or person remaining in a place after you depart.

J'ai laissé mes clés à la maison. (I left my keys at home.)
Laisse un message après le bip. (Leave a message after the beep.)

The second key meaning is to let, allow, or permit an action. In this context, laisser is almost always followed by another verb in the infinitive (its basic, unconjugated form). The structure is laisser + [someone/something] + infinitive verb.

Laisse-moi t'expliquer. (Let me explain to you.)
Ses parents ne le laissent pas sortir ce soir. (His parents aren't letting him go out tonight.)

The easiest way to distinguish between the meanings is by looking at what follows the verb:

If laisser is followed by a noun, it typically means “to leave”. Example: laisser une note (to leave a note).
If laisser is followed by an infinitive verb, it means “to let” or “to allow”. Example: laisser entrer (to let in).

A very common and useful idiomatic expression is laisser tomber. Literally “to let fall,” it is used to mean “to drop it,” “never mind,” or “to give up on” something. It’s an essential phrase for everyday conversation.

Ce projet est trop compliqué, on laisse tomber. (This project is too complicated, we're dropping it.)

💡 * J'ai laissé mon parapluie dans le bus. (I left my umbrella on the bus.)

Laisse-moi tranquille ! (Leave me alone! / Let me be!)

Le gardien ne nous a pas laissé entrer. (The guard didn't let us enter.)

Oh, laisse tomber, ce n'est pas grave. (Oh, just drop it, it's not a big deal.)

Elle a laissé un pourboire pour le serveur. (She left a tip for the waiter.)

The formal 'to permit' or 'to allow' – permettre

When you need a direct, and often formal, way to say 'to permit' or 'to allow' in French, the verb you're looking for is permettre.

This verb is the most straightforward translation for granting permission and is commonly used in both spoken and written French, especially in more formal or official contexts.

The most common structure you'll see is permettre à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose, which means 'to allow someone to do something'. The preposition de is essential before the infinitive verb that follows.

Be aware that permettre is an irregular verb. It is conjugated exactly like the verb mettre (to put/place). If you know the conjugation for mettre, you already know how to conjugate permettre!

A very useful variation is the reflexive form, se permettre de, which translates to 'to allow oneself to' or more idiomatically, 'to take the liberty of'. It's often used in polite but confident statements, like 'Je me permets de vous appeler' (I'm taking the liberty of calling you).

You'll often hear permettre used by figures of authority (parents, teachers, bosses) or see it in official rules and signs. For instance, a sign at a museum might state, 'Il n'est pas permis de toucher les œuvres' (It is not permitted to touch the artworks).

💡 * Mes parents m'ont permis de sortir jusqu'à minuit.

Le règlement de l'école ne permet pas les shorts.

Si le temps le permet, nous ferons un pique-nique.

Est-ce que je peux me permettre de vous donner un conseil ?

Son état de santé ne lui permet pas de voyager.

The official 'to authorize' – autoriser

The French verb autoriser is the direct equivalent of the English verb 'to authorize' or 'to permit.' It carries a formal, official tone, often used in administrative, legal, or professional contexts where formal permission is granted.

At its core, autoriser means to give someone the official right or formal permission to do something. It implies that the person or entity granting the authorization has the specific power or authority to do so, distinguishing it from the more casual permettre (to permit/allow).

Grammatically, autoriser is a regular -er verb. It is most frequently used in the structure autoriser quelqu'un à faire quelque chose (to authorize someone to do something). It can also be followed directly by a noun, such as autoriser un paiement (to authorize a payment).

You will often encounter autoriser in the passive voice, as in être autorisé(e) à..., which means 'to be authorized/allowed to...'. This form is very common in rules, regulations, and official communications.

💡 * Le directeur a autorisé la dépense.

Je ne suis pas autorisé à vous donner cette information.

La loi autorise les municipalités à percevoir cette taxe.

Les photographies sont autorisées sans flash dans le musée.

The 'to let' for property (rent out) – louer

The verb louer is the primary French term for transactions involving property rentals, translating to both "to rent" (as a tenant) and "to let" or "to rent out" (as a landlord).

When you are the owner of a property and you make it available for others to use in exchange for money, you use louer to mean "to rent out" or "to let." This is the context for letting a property.

Conversely, a person looking for a place to live also uses louer to mean "to rent" or "to lease." The same verb covers both sides of the rental agreement, making context crucial for understanding who is the landlord and who is the tenant.

To avoid ambiguity, prepositions are often used. A landlord might say, Je loue mon appartement **à** un étudiant (I rent my apartment to a student), while a tenant would say, Je loue un appartement **à** Paris (I rent an apartment in Paris).

💡 * Je loue ma maison de vacances pendant l'été. (I rent out my holiday home during the summer.)

Ils ont décidé de louer leur deuxième appartement. (They decided to let their second apartment.)

L'agence immobilière loue des studios meublés. (The real estate agency rents out furnished studios.)

À quel prix louez-vous cette chambre ? (At what price are you renting out this room?)

The Causative 'Faire + Infinitive': To Make or Have Something Done

The French causative construction, using faire + infinitive, is essential for expressing that the subject causes an action to be done by someone else, rather than doing it themselves. It's the equivalent of the English 'to make someone do something' or 'to have something done'.

The basic formula is simple: Subject + faire (conjugated) + Infinitive Verb. In this structure, faire changes to match the subject and tense, while the second verb always remains in its infinitive form. For example, Je fais réparer ma voiture means 'I am having my car repaired'.

When you want to name the person or thing performing the action (the 'agent'), the structure depends on the rest of the sentence. If the infinitive verb does not have a direct object, the agent is treated as the direct object of faire. For example: Le professeur fait lire les élèves (The teacher makes the students read).

If the infinitive verb already has a direct object, you must introduce the agent with the preposition par (by). This avoids confusion. For example, in Je fais laver la voiture par mon frère, la voiture is the direct object of laver, so mon frère (the agent) is introduced by par.

When using object pronouns (like le, la, les, lui), they are always placed before the conjugated form of faire. For instance, Je la fais réparer means 'I am having it repaired' (referring to la voiture).

💡 * Elle fait réparer sa voiture. (She is having her car repaired.)

Le professeur fait lire un poème aux élèves. (The teacher makes the students read a poem.)

Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. (I got a haircut / I had my hair cut.)

Il a fait construire sa maison par un architecte. (He had his house built by an architect.)

The 'to let go' or 'to release' – lâcher

The verb lâcher is a versatile and common French word that translates to 'to let go,' 'to release,' or 'to drop.' Its meaning shifts significantly depending on whether it's used in a literal or figurative context, making it essential for understanding everyday speech.

In its most direct sense, lâcher means to physically release one's grip on something. You can lâcher a rope, a hand, or a dog's leash. This usage is straightforward and directly corresponds to the English 'to let go of'.

This is where lâcher becomes more interesting. Figuratively, it can mean 'to give up,' as in the very common expression lâcher l'affaire ('to drop it' or 'to give up on the matter'). It can also mean 'to ditch' or 'abandon' someone. For example, Il m'a lâché means 'He ditched me.'

You will frequently hear lâcher used in commands. Lâche-moi! is a strong way to say 'Let me go!' or 'Leave me alone!' A more informal, slangy version is Lâche-moi les baskets (literally 'let go of my sneakers'), which means 'Get off my back!' or 'Give me a break!'

💡 * Ne lâche pas ma main, il y a trop de monde ici. (Don't let go of my hand, there are too many people here.)

Après des heures de travail, j'ai décidé de lâcher l'affaire. (After hours of work, I decided to give up.)

Mon ami m'a lâché pour aller au cinéma avec sa copine. (My friend ditched me to go to the movies with his girlfriend.)

Lâche-moi les baskets avec tes histoires ! (Get off my back with your stories!)

1. The 'to let someone know' – faire savoir

The French expression faire savoir literally translates to 'to make know'. It is the most common and direct way to say 'to let someone know' or 'to inform'. This phrase is a cornerstone of communication in French, used to convey information to another person.

The phrase follows the structure: faire savoir quelque chose à quelqu'un. The person you are informing is the indirect object. This means you will often use indirect object pronouns like me, te, lui, nous, vous, and leur, which are placed before faire. For example, 'to let me know' becomes me faire savoir.

Faire savoir is extremely versatile. It can be used in both formal and informal situations. While it's common in everyday speech, it's also perfectly suited for professional emails, official announcements, and other formal contexts where clarity is important.

💡 * Je voulais juste te faire savoir que je penserai à toi. (I just wanted to let you know that I'll be thinking of you.)

Faites-nous savoir si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit. (Let us know if you need anything.)

Il m'a fait savoir sa décision hier soir. (He let me know his decision last night.)

Pouvez-vous faire savoir au directeur que le client est arrivé ? (Can you let the director know that the client has arrived?)

The 'to let it drop' or 'never mind' – laisser tomber

The phrase laisser tomber literally translates to 'to let fall.' However, its most common usage is idiomatic, serving as the go-to expression for 'to let it drop,' 'to give up on something,' or a simple 'never mind.'

This expression is used when someone decides to stop pursuing a topic, idea, or effort because it's deemed not worth it, too complicated, or hopeless. It's the verbal equivalent of shrugging your shoulders and moving on from an issue.

You will frequently hear laisser tomber used in the imperative form as a command: Laisse tomber ! This is a direct and often informal way to tell someone, 'Just drop it!' or 'Forget about it!'

It's also important to know that laisser tomber quelqu'un (to let someone fall) means 'to ditch someone' or 'to stand someone up.' The context usually makes it clear whether a person is dropping a subject or another person.

💡 * J'ai essayé de lui expliquer la situation, mais j'ai laissé tomber. (I tried to explain the situation to him, but I let it drop.)

Ce n'est pas si important, laisse tomber. (It's not that important, never mind.)

Elle a laissé tomber son projet de déménager à Paris. (She gave up on her plan to move to Paris.)

Il m'a laissé tomber hier soir pour notre dîner. (He ditched me last night for our dinner.)

1. The Verb for 'To Let Out' or 'To Release': Libérer

The French verb libérer is a versatile and essential verb that primarily translates to 'to free,' 'to release,' or 'to let out.' It comes from the Latin liberare, sharing a root with the English word 'liberty,' which gives a strong clue to its meaning.

The most direct and common use of libérer is when you are talking about setting something or someone free from a physical or metaphorical constraint. This could mean releasing a prisoner from jail, freeing an animal from a trap, or liberating a country from occupation.

Beyond its literal meaning, libérer is also frequently used to mean 'to clear' or 'to free up.' For instance, you can libérer de l'espace (free up space) on your hard drive, libérer une table (clear a table) at a restaurant, or use the reflexive form se libérer (to free oneself) to become available for an appointment.

As a regular -er verb, libérer follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to learn for beginners. For example, in the present tense, it conjugates as: je libère, tu libères, il/elle libère, nous libérons, vous libérez, ils/elles libèrent.

💡 * Les soldats ont réussi à libérer les otages. (The soldiers managed to free the hostages.)

Il faut libérer de la place dans le garage pour la nouvelle voiture. (We need to clear some space in the garage for the new car.)

Quand est-ce que tu peux te libérer pour un café ? (When can you free yourself up for a coffee?)

Elle a libéré les oiseaux de leur cage. (She released the birds from their cage.)

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

This guide has covered the most essential French verbs for 'to let,' from laisser to permettre and louer. However, the French language is rich with expressions and specific verbs for particular situations, so you'll undoubtedly encounter more variations as you learn.

When you encounter a specific context for 'to let' (like 'to let go' or 'to let down'), a great strategy is to search for the full phrase. For example, try searching online for “how to say 'to let go' in French” to find expressions like lâcher prise.

The best way to master these nuances is through immersion. Pay close attention when you're watching French movies, listening to music, or reading. Notice which verb is used and in what context—it's the most natural way to build your intuition.

For a deeper dive into specific expressions and synonyms, online dictionaries like WordReference or Reverso Context are invaluable. They provide real-world examples that can help clarify the subtle differences between each verb.

I hope this guide has helped clarify the different ways to say 'to let' in French. Don't be discouraged by the variety; each new verb you learn is another tool in your communication toolkit. Keep practicing, and soon choosing the right word will feel like second nature.

'9 ways to say "to let" in French'