Faire is often the first verb that comes to mind when you want to say “to make” in French. But as you advance in your French journey, you'll quickly discover that French offers a rich vocabulary with many different verbs to express the idea of “making” depending on the context and nuance you want to convey. To truly sound like a native speaker and express yourself precisely, it’s essential to move beyond just “faire.” Whether you’re making a cake, making a decision, or making someone happy, there’s often a more specific and natural verb to use. Let’s explore 9 different ways to say “to make” in French, so you can choose the perfect verb every time!

The standard and most versatile 'to make' or 'to do' – faire

Faire is arguably one of the most essential and frequently used verbs in the French language, primarily translating to 'to do' or 'to make'.

Its versatility means it pops up in countless situations, from describing actions and activities to creating things, and even talking about the weather. Mastering faire is crucial for fluency.

Faire is an irregular verb, so its conjugations don't follow a standard pattern. It's vital to memorize its forms, as you'll encounter it constantly. For instance, the present tense conjugations are: je fais, tu fais, il/elle/on fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font.

When faire means 'to do', it often refers to performing an action or an activity. Think of it as the verb for action or performance.

When faire means 'to make', it implies creation or production. This can be anything from making a cake to making noise, or even making a decision.

Faire is a powerhouse for idiomatic expressions. Many common phrases use faire in ways that aren't immediately obvious from its 'to do'/'to make' definitions, requiring you to learn them as fixed expressions.

A unique and very common use of faire is in impersonal weather expressions. Here, it always uses the third-person singular il fait to describe the weather, without a direct translation of 'to do' or 'to make'.

Because of its extensive range of meanings and its role in numerous fixed expressions, faire is a cornerstone of French communication. Learning its various applications will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself naturally and understand everyday conversations.

💡 * Je fais mes devoirs. (I'm doing my homework.)

Elle fait un gâteau. (She's making a cake.)

Nous faisons du sport tous les jours. (We do sports every day.)

Il fait beau aujourd'hui. (The weather is nice today.)

Vous faites quoi ce week-end ? (What are you doing this weekend?)

Fais attention ! (Be careful!)

To 'make' or 'manufacture' (for physical objects) – fabriquer

To 'make' or 'manufacture' (for physical objects) – fabriquer

When you want to express the act of creating or producing a physical object, the most precise French verb to use is fabriquer. It directly translates to 'to make,' 'to manufacture,' or 'to build' something tangible.

While the verb faire is a very general 'to make' or 'to do' that can apply to almost anything (making coffee, doing homework, making a decision), fabriquer specifically implies the construction or fabrication of an item. Think of it as 'making with your hands' or 'making in a factory'.

You'll use fabriquer for crafting items, building furniture, manufacturing products in a factory, inventing new devices, or even making a cake from scratch. It emphasizes the process of transforming raw materials into a finished good.

The use of fabriquer often carries the implication of a more involved or deliberate process of creation, rather than a simple action. It suggests skill, design, or industrial production.

💡 * Ils fabriquent des voitures dans cette usine. (They manufacture cars in this factory.)

Elle a fabriqué un gâteau pour son anniversaire. (She made a cake for his birthday.)

Mon grand-père aime fabriquer des meubles en bois. (My grandfather likes to make wooden furniture.)

Les enfants ont fabriqué des jouets avec des matériaux recyclés. (The children made toys with recycled materials.)

Ce designer fabrique des bijoux uniques. (This designer makes unique jewelry.)

To 'create' (for original works or art) – créer

When expressing the act of bringing something original into existence, especially in art, literature, or unique ideas, the French verb you'll use is créer.

Créer directly translates to 'to create' and is used when something is formed, designed, or imagined from scratch. It implies originality and often artistic or intellectual effort.

Créer is a regular -er verb. Its conjugation is straightforward, but note the double 'e' in some forms, e.g., nous créons, vous créez, which is important for pronunciation.

Unlike the more general faire ('to make' or 'to do'), créer specifically denotes original invention or artistic production. Faire might be for routine tasks, while créer is for new concepts.

From créer, we derive key nouns: une création (a creation/work), un créateur (a male creator), and une créatrice (a female creator).

You'll frequently encounter créer in phrases like créer une œuvre d'art (to create a work of art), créer une entreprise (to create/start a business), or créer des liens (to forge/create bonds).

💡 * L'artiste a créé une sculpture magnifique. (The artist created a magnificent sculpture.)* Elle rêve de créer sa propre ligne de vêtements. (She dreams of creating her own clothing line.)* Nous allons créer un nouveau projet ensemble. (We are going to create a new project together.)* Le compositeur a créé une mélodie inoubliable. (The composer created an unforgettable melody.)* Il est essentiel de créer un environnement propice à l'apprentissage. (It is essential to create an environment conducive to learning.)

To 'prepare' (like food or a plan) – préparer

The French verb préparer directly translates to 'to prepare' or 'to get ready' in English. It's a regular -ER verb, making its conjugations straightforward.

One of the most common uses of préparer is when talking about making food. You can préparer un repas (prepare a meal) or préparer le dîner (prepare dinner).

Beyond food, préparer is also used for organizing or setting up events, projects, or even yourself for something. For instance, you préparez un voyage (prepare a trip) or préparez une réunion (prepare a meeting).

When you're preparing yourself for something, the reflexive form se préparer is used. This means 'to get ready' or 'to prepare oneself'. For example, Je me prépare pour le travail (I'm getting ready for work).

💡 * Elle prépare un délicieux gâteau. (She's preparing a delicious cake.)

Nous préparons notre voyage en Italie. (We are preparing our trip to Italy.)

Tu te prépares pour l'examen? (Are you getting ready for the exam?)

Ils préparent la salle pour la conférence. (They are preparing the room for the conference.)

Je dois préparer mes affaires. (I need to prepare my things.)

To 'make' someone/something [adjective] – rendre

The verb rendre is commonly used in French to express the idea of 'making' someone or something become a certain way, often followed by an adjective. It translates to 'to make,' 'to render,' or 'to turn (into something/someone).' This is distinct from its meaning of 'to give back' or 'to return' (an object), which is another common usage.

The structure for this usage is straightforward: rendre + direct object + adjective. The adjective must agree in gender and number with the direct object it describes.

Unlike simply 'doing' something, rendre implies a change in state or condition. It's about causing someone or something to become or be rendered in a particular state, emotion, or quality.

You'll often hear rendre paired with adjectives describing emotions (heureux, triste, fou), conditions (facile, difficile, propre), or states (visible, possible). For example, rendre quelqu'un heureux (to make someone happy) or rendre la tâche facile (to make the task easy).

It's important not to confuse rendre with faire. While faire can also mean 'to make,' when followed by an infinitive (e.g., faire manger - to make eat), it generally means to cause someone to do something. Rendre, in this context, is specifically about making someone/something become [adjective].

Rendre is a regular -RE verb, making its conjugation pattern predictable in most tenses. For example, in the present tense: je rends, tu rends, il/elle/on rend, nous rendons, vous rendez, ils/elles rendent.

💡 * Cette nouvelle me rend triste. (This news makes me sad.)

Le soleil rend la vie plus belle. (The sun makes life more beautiful.)

Son absence a rendu la situation difficile. (His absence made the situation difficult.)

Les exercices rendent les muscles plus forts. (The exercises make muscles stronger.)

Le chocolat le rend fou de joie. (Chocolate makes him crazy with joy.)

To 'make' or 'achieve' (a project or a dream) – réaliser

The French verb réaliser is often translated as "to realize," but its primary meaning is closer to "to achieve," "to fulfill," or "to bring to fruition," especially when referring to dreams, goals, or projects. It signifies the act of making something tangible or actual from an idea or plan.

It's crucial to distinguish réaliser from faire (to make/do). While faire is a general verb for creating or performing actions (e.g., faire un gâteau - to make a cake, faire du sport - to do sport), réaliser is used for bringing a concept, an aspiration, or a complex plan into existence. You wouldn't typically use réaliser for simple physical creation.

The most common and important use of réaliser is in the context of achieving or fulfilling something significant. Think of it as making a dream, a project, an ambition, or a goal real. It implies successful completion and the materialization of an abstract concept. For example, réaliser un rêve means "to achieve a dream."

Beyond personal achievements, réaliser also has specific professional contexts. It is used to mean "to direct" a film (réaliser un film) or "to produce" a report or study (réaliser un rapport/une étude). In these cases, it still conveys the sense of bringing a complex work or document into being.

It's important to note that réaliser does not mean "to realize" in the sense of "to understand" or "to become aware of" (e.g., "I realized my mistake"). For that, French uses verbs like se rendre compte (de) or comprendre. Always remember réaliser as making something real rather than understanding something.

💡 * Elle a réalisé son rêve d'enfance de devenir astronaute. (She achieved her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.)

Nous devons réaliser ce projet avant la fin du mois. (We must complete this project before the end of the month.)

J'espère réaliser tous mes objectifs cette année. (I hope to achieve all my goals this year.)

Le réalisateur a réalisé un film incroyable. (The director directed an incredible film.)

Il est difficile de réaliser ses ambitions sans persévérance. (It's difficult to fulfill one's ambitions without perseverance.)

To 'craft' or 'make' (especially clothes or small items) – confectionner

The verb confectionner means “to make” or “to craft,” often implying a process involving skill, care, or assembly, particularly for items like clothing, accessories, or small artisanal products.

Unlike the more general verb faire (to do/make), confectionner suggests a more deliberate and often manual creation process. It's frequently used when referring to making garments (like a dress or a suit), small gifts, or even certain food preparations that require meticulous assembly.

You'll most commonly encounter confectionner in contexts related to tailoring, dressmaking, or the creation of small, crafted goods. For instance, a tailor confectionne a suit, or someone confectionne handmade jewelry.

💡 *Elle a confectionné une robe magnifique pour le bal. (She crafted a magnificent dress for the ball.)
*Le pâtissier a confectionné des macarons délicieux. (The pastry chef made delicious macarons.)
*Ils confectionnent des petits cadeaux pour leurs amis. (They are making small gifts for their friends.)
*Mon grand-père confectionnait des meubles en bois. (My grandfather used to craft wooden furniture.)

To 'elaborate' or 'develop' (a plan or theory) – élaborer

The French verb élaborer translates to 'to elaborate,' 'to develop,' or 'to devise.' It signifies the process of creating something complex and detailed through careful thought and planning.

You'll most often encounter élaborer when referring to the creation of plans, strategies, theories, projects, or detailed reports. It implies a thorough, intellectual process rather than a simple act of making.

Élaborer carries a more formal and precise tone than general verbs like faire (to make/do). It emphasizes the mental effort and intricate development involved in bringing a complex idea or structure to fruition.

💡 * Il faut élaborer un plan détaillé. (We need to elaborate a detailed plan.)

Les scientifiques ont élaboré une nouvelle théorie. (The scientists developed a new theory.)

Nous élaborons une stratégie pour la campagne. (We are devising a strategy for the campaign.)

Elle a élaboré son projet pendant des mois. (She developed her project for months.)

To 'cause' or 'provoke' (to make something happen) – provoquer

Provoquer is a versatile French verb that translates primarily to "to cause," "to provoke," or "to bring about." It implies making something happen, whether intentionally or unintentionally, often with a significant impact.

When used to mean "to cause," provoquer often refers to bringing about an event, a situation, or a consequence. This can range from causing a problem to causing a reaction, and it doesn't always imply malicious intent, though it often suggests a strong effect.

In the sense of "to provoke," the verb provoquer signifies inciting a reaction, an emotion, or even a conflict. This usage often carries a connotation of deliberate instigation, whether it's provoking anger, laughter, or a debate.

Provoquer is a regular -ER verb, meaning its conjugation follows standard patterns. It is always a transitive verb, requiring a direct object, which is the thing being caused or provoked.

💡 *Son commentaire a provoqué un tollé. (His comment caused an outcry.)
*Le réchauffement climatique provoque des changements météorologiques extrêmes. (Global warming causes extreme weather changes.)
*Elle aime provoquer son frère avec des blagues. (She likes to provoke her brother with jokes.)
*Cette situation a provoqué beaucoup de stress. (This situation caused a lot of stress.)
*Le joueur a été expulsé pour avoir provoqué l'arbitre. (The player was sent off for provoking the referee.)

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

Our article has focused on the most common ways to say 'to make' in French, primarily with faire and rendre. However, the French language is rich with verbs, and many can express nuances of 'making' depending on the context, from formal to slang, or regional variations.

If you're curious about regional differences or very specific contexts, you can do an online search for 'comment dire faire en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, or 'synonymes de faire' for a broader list.

You might find many verbs that can translate to 'to make' depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it, especially with verbs that have many different meanings.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different verbs that express 'to make' in ways you hadn't considered.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive understanding of faire and its many uses, or other verbs that translate to 'to make,' the WordReference entry for faire is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding how to say 'to make' in French. Here’s a fitting quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that reflects the creativity often associated with 'making': Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve une réalité. (Make your life a dream, and a dream a reality.)

9 ways to say "to make" in French