Just like in English, where we have 'to look', 'to gaze', 'to glance', and 'to stare', French also offers a rich vocabulary for expressing the act of seeing or observing. While 'regarder' is a go-to verb, mastering its nuances and alternatives will significantly enhance your fluency and allow you to express yourself with greater precision.

Ready to deepen your French vocabulary? Let's explore 9 versatile ways to say 'to look' in French, helping you sound more like a native speaker!

The general 'to look' or 'to watch' – regarder

The general “to look” or “to watch” – regarder

Regarder is the most common and versatile French verb for both “to look” and “to watch.” It's your go-to verb for observing something with your eyes, whether for a moment or for an extended period.

You'll frequently use regarder when talking about watching television, a movie, a show, or even watching someone do something. It implies a sustained act of observation, much like 'to watch' in English.

It's also the standard verb for simply 'looking at' something or someone. For instance, looking at a picture, a person, a landscape, or an object. In this context, it often translates directly to 'to look at'.

As a regular -er verb, regarder follows the standard conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -er. This makes it relatively straightforward to conjugate in all tenses, a good starting point for learners.

Regarder is a transitive verb, meaning it generally takes a direct object. You regard something or someone directly, without needing a preposition like 'à' or 'de' immediately following the verb (e.g., regarder la télé, regarder un ami).

Here are some common phrases using regarder that you'll encounter often:

• regarder la télé (to watch TV)
• regarder un film (to watch a movie)
• regarder quelqu'un (to look at/watch someone)
• regarder l'heure (to look at the time)
• regarder par la fenêtre (to look out the window)

Regarder is appropriate for both formal and informal situations, making it a safe and versatile choice in nearly any conversation. Its broad meaning covers most 'seeing' actions where attention is directed.

While it translates to both 'to look' and 'to watch,' the specific context of the sentence usually makes it clear whether a brief glance or sustained observation is implied, just as in English.

💡 * Je regarde la télévision tous les soirs. (I watch television every evening.)

• Il regarde sa montre. (He looks at his watch.)
• Nous regardons les enfants jouer dans le parc. (We watch the children playing in the park.)
• Regarde ce beau tableau ! (Look at this beautiful painting!)
• Qu'est-ce que tu regardes ? (What are you looking at/watching?)

The 'to look for' or 'to search for' – chercher

When you want to express 'to look for' or 'to search for' in French, the verb you'll almost always use is chercher.

Unlike English, where we 'look for' something, in French, chercher is a transitive verb. This means it takes a direct object, and you do not need a preposition like pour or à after it.

This is a very common mistake for English speakers! Remember, chercher already contains the idea of 'for' within its meaning. So, you simply say chercher quelque chose (to look for something) or chercher quelqu'un (to look for someone).

Beyond simply looking for an object or person, chercher can also be used in the construction chercher à + infinitive. This means 'to try to do something' or 'to seek to do something,' indicating an effort or an intention.

Whether you've lost your keys, are trying to find a new job, or are attempting to understand a complex idea, chercher is your go-to verb for all forms of 'searching' and 'looking for' in French.

Just remember: chercher stands alone; no pour or à is needed when you're looking for a noun!

💡 * Je cherche mes clés. (I'm looking for my keys.)

• Il cherche un nouvel emploi. (He's looking for a new job.)
• Nous cherchons notre chien. (We are looking for our dog.)
• Elle cherche à comprendre la situation. (She's trying to understand the situation.)
• Que cherches-tu ? (What are you looking for?)

The 'to observe' or 'to watch carefully' – observer

When you want to express the idea of "to observe" or "to watch carefully" in French, the verb you'll likely use is observer.

Observer directly translates to "to observe" or "to watch." However, it often carries a nuance of attention or scrutiny, implying a more deliberate act than simply seeing.

While voir means "to see" in a general sense (e.g., Je vois une voiture - I see a car), observer implies a more active and focused watching, often with the intent to learn, understand, or analyze. Think of a scientist observing an experiment.

Observer is a regular -er verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. This makes it relatively straightforward to learn.

You'll use observer when talking about watching something closely, like an animal, a phenomenon, a person's behavior, or even a landscape with a keen eye.

Beyond visual observation, observer can also mean "to observe" in the sense of "to abide by," "to follow," or "to respect" a rule, a custom, or a tradition. For example, observer une règle means "to observe a rule."

💡 * J'observe les oiseaux dans le jardin. (I am observing the birds in the garden.)

• Elle observe son comportement attentivement. (She is carefully observing his behavior.)
• Les scientifiques observent les étoiles. (Scientists observe the stars.)
• Nous devons observer les règles de sécurité. (We must observe the safety rules.)
• Il observe le monde avec curiosité. (He observes the world with curiosity.)

The 'to examine' or 'to inspect' – examiner

The French verb examiner directly translates to 'to examine' or 'to inspect' in English. It implies a thorough and careful look or investigation into something or someone.

Examiner is widely used across various fields: a doctor examine a patient (examiner un patient), a teacher examine students (examiner les élèves), or an investigator examine evidence (examiner les preuves). It emphasizes detailed scrutiny.

As a regular -er verb, examiner follows typical conjugation patterns in French. This makes its present tense, past tense (passé composé), and future tense relatively straightforward to learn for French language students.

While it means 'to examine' or 'to inspect', examiner often carries a more formal and serious connotation than simply 'to look at' (regarder). It suggests a methodical process of evaluation or investigation.

💡 * Le médecin examine le patient avec soin. (The doctor examines the patient carefully.)

• Les étudiants vont être examinés sur ce chapitre. (The students will be examined on this chapter.)
• La police examine la scène du crime. (The police are examining the crime scene.)
• Il faut examiner toutes les options avant de décider. (We must examine all the options before deciding.)
• J'ai examiné attentivement le rapport. (I carefully examined the report.)

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

The French idiom jeter un coup d'œil literally translates to 'to throw a blow of eye,' but its actual meaning is far more common and useful in everyday conversation.

This versatile expression means 'to glance,' 'to take a quick look,' or 'to cast an eye over something.' It implies a brief, often casual, visual inspection.

The verb jeter (to throw) is conjugated according to the subject and tense (e.g., je jette, tu jettes, il jette), while the phrase un coup d'œil remains fixed after it.

You'll often see it used with prepositions like à or sur to specify what is being looked at. For instance, jeter un coup d'œil à la page (to glance at the page) or jeter un coup d'œil sur ton travail (to take a quick look at your work).

This idiom is widely used in informal and semi-formal contexts, making it an essential phrase for sounding more natural. It's a quick way to express the action of briefly checking something.

💡 * Peux-tu jeter un coup d'œil à mon rapport ? (Can you take a quick look at my report?)

• J'ai jeté un coup d'œil sur les nouvelles ce matin. (I glanced at the news this morning.)
• Il jette toujours un coup d'œil avant de traverser la rue. (He always takes a quick look before crossing the street.)
• Je vais jeter un coup d'œil rapide à mes emails. (I'm going to take a quick look at my emails.)

The 'to contemplate' or 'to gaze at' – contempler

In French, the verb contempler directly translates to 'to contemplate' or 'to gaze at'. It implies a deep, often reflective, observation rather than a simple act of seeing.

Unlike voir (to see) or regarder (to look at), contempler suggests a prolonged and thoughtful engagement with the object of observation. It's about absorbing and reflecting upon what is being seen.

You'll often hear contempler when describing someone admiring a beautiful landscape, a piece of art, or even a person with a sense of wonder. It conveys a sense of awe or deep appreciation.

Contempler is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. It follows the standard patterns for verbs ending in -er in all tenses, such as je contemple, tu contemples, il/elle contemple, etc.

Beyond physical observation, contempler can also be used abstractly, meaning 'to ponder' or 'to reflect deeply on' an idea, a future, or a past event. It carries the same intensity of thought.

💡 *Elle aime contempler le coucher de soleil sur la mer. (She loves to contemplate the sunset over the sea.)
*Nous avons passé des heures à contempler les œuvres d'art au musée. (We spent hours contemplating the artworks at the museum.)
*Il contemplait son avenir avec une certaine anxiété. (He was contemplating his future with a certain anxiety.)
*L'enfant contemplait les étoiles avec des yeux émerveillés. (The child gazed at the stars with wide, wondering eyes.)
*J'aime m'asseoir et simplement contempler la nature autour de moi. (I like to sit and simply contemplate the nature around me.)

The 'to stare' or 'to fix one's gaze' – fixer

The verb fixer in French primarily translates to 'to fix,' 'to attach,' or 'to set.' However, when used in the context of looking at someone or something, it takes on the meaning of 'to stare' or 'to fix one's gaze.'

Specifically, when referring to eyes or gaze, fixer implies a sustained, often intense, look. It can suggest concentration, curiosity, or even an impolite stare, depending on the context.

It's a regular -ER verb, so its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs like parler. For example, je fixe (I stare), tu fixes (you stare).

💡 * Elle fixe l'horizon avec mélancolie. (She stares at the horizon with melancholy.)

• Ne me fixe pas comme ça, c'est impoli. (Don't stare at me like that, it's impolite.)
• Il a fixé les yeux sur la carte. (He fixed his eyes on the map.)
• Les enfants fixent le magicien, émerveillés. (The children stare at the magician, amazed.)

The 'to look like' or 'to appear' – avoir l'air (de)

The versatile French expression avoir l'air (de) is used to convey 'to look like' or 'to appear'. It describes someone's or something's perceived state, mood, or resemblance.

When followed by an adjective, avoir l'air translates to 'to look' or 'to seem'. Crucially, the adjective agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence, not with l'air (which is always masculine singular). For example, Elle a l'air fatiguée (She looks tired).

To express 'to look like something' or 'to appear to do something', you use avoir l'air de followed by a noun or an infinitive verb. The 'de' is essential here, connecting 'l'air' to the perceived resemblance or action. For instance, Il a l'air d'un professeur (He looks like a teacher) or Tu as l'air de t'ennuyer (You seem to be bored).

💡 * Il a l'air content. (He looks happy.)

• Elle a l'air fatiguée. (She looks tired.)
• Vous avez l'air d'un artiste. (You look like an artist.)
• Ils ont l'air de comprendre. (They seem to understand.)
• Ces fleurs ont l'air artificielles. (These flowers look artificial.)

The 'to watch over' or 'to monitor' – surveiller

The French verb surveiller means 'to watch over' or 'to monitor'. It implies a sense of oversight, vigilance, and often, responsibility, making it a key term for expressing careful observation in French.

One of the primary uses of surveiller is to describe the act of watching over someone or something. This often carries a connotation of care, protection, or supervision, like surveiller les enfants (to watch over the children) or surveiller sa maison (to watch over one's house).

Beyond physical oversight, surveiller is also used to mean 'to monitor' or 'to keep an eye on' a situation, progress, or system. For instance, you might surveiller l'évolution d'une maladie (to monitor the evolution of an illness) or surveiller les prix (to monitor prices).

Surveiller is distinct from regarder (to look at, to watch passively) and garder (to guard, to keep). While regarder is a simple act of seeing, surveiller implies a continuous, active observation with a purpose. Garder can imply protection, but surveiller focuses more on the act of observation and vigilance itself.

Surveiller is a regular -er verb, meaning its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. It is frequently used transitively, directly taking an object, and is essential for expressing active vigilance in various contexts.

💡 *La mère surveille ses enfants qui jouent dans le jardin. (The mother watches over her children playing in the garden.)
*Le médecin surveille attentivement l'état de santé du patient. (The doctor carefully monitors the patient's health condition.)
*Il faut surveiller la cuisson du gâteau pour qu'il ne brûle pas. (You must monitor the cake's cooking so it doesn't burn.)
*La police surveille le quartier pour prévenir le crime. (The police monitor the neighborhood to prevent crime.)
*Je dois surveiller mes dépenses ce mois-ci. (I need to monitor my expenses this month.)

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

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

Our list features the most common and versatile ways to say “to look” in French, like regarder, voir, and chercher. But the French language, like any, is rich with nuances! You'll find many other verbs and expressions depending on the specific type of looking you mean – from a quick glance to an intense stare, or even looking for something.

To delve deeper, you can perform online searches for phrases like 'synonymes de regarder' or 'comment exprimer l'action de regarder en français' for more nuanced alternatives.

As you explore these synonyms, remember to always check a word’s specific definition and observe how it’s used in various contexts before incorporating it into your vocabulary. French verbs for 'to look' often carry subtle distinctions.

Immerse yourself in French content! Pay close attention as you read books, watch films, and listen to podcasts in French — you’ll naturally discover a fascinating array of verbs and expressions related to 'looking'.

For an exhaustive list of verbs related to 'looking' or 'seeing,' and their various shades of meaning, the WordReference entry for regarder or voir is an excellent starting point to broaden your understanding.

I hope this article has shed some light on the diverse ways to express 'to look' in French. To conclude, here’s a fitting thought from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. (One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.)