Offrir is the most common way to say "to offer" in French, and it's a great, versatile verb to know. But the French language, with all its nuances, provides many other options for different situations!

Whether you want to propose an idea, suggest a plan, or present someone with a gift, there’s a more specific verb that can make you sound more like a native speaker.

Let's explore nine different ways to say "to offer" to make your French more precise and expressive!

The standard 'to offer' or 'to give (as a gift)' – offrir

The verb offrir is the standard French verb for 'to offer' and, more specifically, 'to give' when the item being given is a gift.

While donner means 'to give' in a general sense (like giving directions or a piece of paper), offrir implies a more generous, thoughtful act. It elevates the giving to a gesture or a present. If you're talking about a birthday or holiday gift, offrir is the word you need.

Be careful! Although offrir ends in -ir, it's an irregular verb. The good news is that it conjugates like a regular -er verb in the present tense: j'offre, tu offres, il/elle/on offre, nous offrons, vous offrez, ils/elles offrent. Its past participle is offert.

The most common use for offrir is for giving presents. It frames the action as a special occasion.

• Pour Noël, mes parents m'ont offert un nouveau téléphone. (For Christmas, my parents gave me a new phone.)

Offrir also means 'to offer' in a broader sense, such as offering a drink, help, or an opportunity. It's a polite and common way to propose something to someone.

• Puis-je vous offrir un verre ? (Can I offer you a drink?)

The verb construction is offrir quelque chose à quelqu'un (to offer something to someone). The person receiving the item is the indirect object, often replaced by a pronoun like lui (to him/her) or leur (to them).

• J'offre des fleurs à ma grand-mère. -> Je lui offre des fleurs.

💡 * Pour son anniversaire, je lui ai offert un livre.

• Puis-je vous offrir un café ?
• Mon mari m'a offert un magnifique collier pour notre anniversaire de mariage.
• Cette entreprise offre de belles opportunités de carrière.
• Ils offrent toujours leur aide quand nous en avons besoin.

The 'to propose' or 'to suggest' – proposer

The French verb proposer is a versatile and common word that translates to both "to suggest" and "to propose." Mastering its use depends entirely on understanding the context in which it's spoken.

In its most frequent role, proposer means "to suggest" or "to offer." You'll hear it constantly in everyday situations when people are making plans, offering help, or putting forward an idea. For example, suggesting an activity or a solution to a problem.

When using proposer to mean "suggest," it's often followed by the preposition de and an infinitive verb. For instance: Je te propose de prendre un café. (I suggest we get a coffee.) This structure is fundamental for making casual suggestions.

Proposer also carries the much more significant meaning of "to propose marriage." While less common in daily conversation, this is the term used for this major life event. The gravity of the situation makes the meaning clear.

Context is everything. If someone gets down on one knee with a ring and says, Je te propose de m'épouser (I propose you marry me), the meaning is unmistakable. Often, French speakers will use the more specific phrase demander quelqu'un en mariage (to ask someone in marriage) to avoid any ambiguity, but proposer on its own in a romantic context implies a marriage proposal.

Ultimately, whether you are suggesting a movie or proposing a lifetime commitment, proposer is the verb you need. Pay attention to the social cues and surrounding words to grasp the intended meaning, from a casual plan to a life-changing question.

💡 * Je vous propose une solution différente. (I suggest a different solution to you.)

• Que proposes-tu pour le dîner ce soir ? (What do you suggest for dinner tonight?)
• Il a proposé à sa copine de l'épouser devant la Tour Eiffel. (He proposed to his girlfriend in front of the Eiffel Tower.)
• Elle m'a proposé son aide pour le déménagement. (She offered me her help with the move.)

The 'to provide' or 'to supply' – fournir

The verb fournir is a key French verb that directly translates to 'to provide' or 'to supply'. It is essential for expressing the act of making something available to someone.

Fournir is used when you give or make something available that is needed or requested. It implies fulfilling a requirement, often in a professional, commercial, or official capacity, distinguishing it from the more general verb donner (to give).

As a regular -ir verb (it conjugates like finir), its structure is straightforward. The most common construction is fournir quelque chose à quelqu'un (to provide something to someone).

You will frequently see fournir in business contexts (supplying goods), administrative settings (providing documents), or technical situations (supplying parts). For example, you might be asked to fournir une preuve d'achat (provide proof of purchase).

Remember, the key difference between fournir and donner is the sense of obligation or necessity. You donne a gift, but you fournit the required paperwork.

💡 * Veuillez nous fournir une copie de votre pièce d'identité. (Please provide us with a copy of your ID.)

• L'entreprise fournit des équipements de sécurité à tous les employés. (The company supplies safety equipment to all employees.)
• Il n'a pas pu fournir de preuves pour étayer ses dires. (He could not provide evidence to support his claims.)
• Ce programme est conçu pour fournir un soutien aux familles à faible revenu. (This program is designed to provide support to low-income families.)

The simple 'to give' – donner

The most fundamental and widely used verb for 'to give' in French is donner. It functions almost exactly like its English counterpart, making it one of the most straightforward verbs for learners to master.

Donner is used to describe the act of transferring an object, information, or an abstract concept to another person. The standard sentence structure is donner quelque chose à quelqu'un (to give something to someone).

A major advantage for beginners is that donner is a regular -er verb. This means it follows the most common conjugation pattern in French, making it predictable and easy to use across different tenses like the present, past, and future.

Beyond its literal meaning, donner is a key component in many everyday French expressions. For instance, you can donner un conseil (give advice), donner la permission (give permission), or donner un coup de main (give a helping hand).

💡 * Je vais te donner mon stylo. (I am going to give you my pen.)

• Elle m'a donné une excellente idée. (She gave me an excellent idea.)
• Le soleil donne de la chaleur. (The sun gives heat.)
• Pouvez-vous me donner l'heure, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you give me the time, please?)

The formal 'to present' – présenter

The verb présenter is the standard, versatile French verb for 'to present' or 'to introduce.' It is fundamental for both social and professional communication.

Its most common use is to introduce one person to another. The typical structure is présenter [person A] à [person B]. For example, 'Je te présente mon ami' means 'I'm introducing my friend to you.'

Beyond social introductions, présenter is also used for presenting things, concepts, or information. You would use it when giving a business presentation, showing a document, or laying out an argument.

A crucial variation is the reflexive form, se présenter, which means 'to introduce oneself.' When you are the one making the introduction about yourself, you must use this form. For example, Je me présente translates to 'Let me introduce myself.'

Présenter is appropriate for nearly all situations, from formal to casual. It is the default, polite verb for introductions and is always a safe choice when you are unsure which word to use.

💡 * Je vous présente mon collègue, David. (Let me introduce you to my colleague, David.)

• Elle doit présenter son rapport demain matin. (She has to present her report tomorrow morning.)
• Bonjour, puis-je me présenter ? Je m'appelle Sophie. (Hello, may I introduce myself? My name is Sophie.)
• Il a présenté ses excuses pour son retard. (He presented his apologies for being late.)

The 'to make available' – mettre à disposition

The French expression mettre à disposition is a key phrase for learners, translating directly to "to make available," "to provide," or "to place at someone's disposal." It's a versatile and widely used term, particularly in formal or professional contexts.

Literally, the phrase breaks down into mettre (to put), à (at/to), and disposition (disposal). So, you are literally "putting something at someone's disposal." The typical structure is mettre [quelque chose] à la disposition de [quelqu'un].

You will often hear or read mettre à disposition in business, hospitality, or administrative settings. For example, a hotel met à disposition towels for its guests, or a company met à disposition a car for an employee. It implies providing a resource for someone to use.

While mettre à disposition is common, simpler verbs like fournir (to provide/supply) or prêter (to lend) can sometimes be used. However, mettre à disposition carries a more formal and official tone, emphasizing that the item is available for use without necessarily implying a permanent transfer of ownership.

💡 * L'hôtel met des vélos à la disposition de ses clients. (The hotel makes bicycles available to its guests.)

• La ville a mis un nouveau parc à la disposition des habitants. (The city has made a new park available to the residents.)
• Je mets mes notes à ta disposition si tu as besoin d'aide pour étudier. (I'm making my notes available to you if you need help studying.)
• L'entreprise mettra un ordinateur portable à la disposition de chaque nouvel employé. (The company will provide a laptop for each new employee.)

The 'to treat' someone (to a meal, etc.) – régaler

When you want to say you're treating someone, especially to a meal, a drink, or something delicious, the French verb régaler is the perfect choice. It conveys a sense of generosity and delight, going beyond simply paying for something.

The structure is straightforward: régaler quelqu'un (to treat someone). A common phrase you'll hear is, C'est moi qui régale ! which means 'It's my treat!' The verb can also be used reflexively, se régaler, which means 'to thoroughly enjoy a meal' or 'to have a feast'.

While you could use offrir (to offer) or inviter (to invite), régaler has a warmer, more informal connotation. It specifically emphasizes the pleasure of the treat itself, making it a friendly and common term to use among friends and family.

💡 * Ce soir, c'est moi qui régale !

• Il a régalé tous ses amis au restaurant pour son anniversaire.
• On s'est régalé avec la paella que tu as préparée.
• Laisse ton portefeuille, je te régale ce café.

The 'to serve' (food or drink) – servir

When you want to talk about serving food or drink in French, the essential verb you need is servir.

Servir is used in any context where food or beverages are being offered or presented to someone. This applies whether you're a waiter in a restaurant, a host at a dinner party, or just pouring a drink for a friend. It's the direct equivalent of 'to serve'.

Keep in mind that servir is an irregular verb. In the present tense, the singular forms are je sers, tu sers, il/elle sert, but the plural forms are regular: nous servons, vous servez, ils/elles servent.

While its primary meaning relates to food, servir can also mean 'to be useful' or 'to serve a purpose,' often used in the phrase servir à. For example, Ça sert à ouvrir les bouteilles means 'It's used for opening bottles.'

💡 * Le restaurant sert le dîner jusqu'à 22h. (The restaurant serves dinner until 10 p.m.)

• Qu'est-ce que je te sers à boire ? (What can I serve you to drink?)
• On a servi la soupe en premier. (We served the soup first.)
• Attends, je sers les enfants d'abord. (Wait, I'll serve the children first.)

1. The Formal 'to Submit' an Offer or Proposal: Soumettre

The most formal and widely used verb for 'to submit' in French, especially in a business, academic, or legal context, is soumettre. It directly translates to 'to submit' and implies presenting something for judgment, approval, or consideration.

You would use soumettre when you are formally handing over documents. Common examples include soumettre une candidature (to submit an application), soumettre une proposition (to submit a proposal), or soumettre un rapport (to submit a report). Its use conveys a sense of official procedure and respect for authority.

Grammatically, soumettre is an irregular verb that is conjugated just like the verb mettre. For example, in the present tense, it becomes je soumets, tu soumets, il/elle soumet, nous soumettons, vous soumettez, ils/elles soumettent. The past participle is soumis.

While verbs like déposer (to file/deposit) or présenter (to present) can sometimes be used, soumettre carries a stronger connotation of yielding to another's judgment. It is the most appropriate choice for any official submission process where approval is required.

💡 * Vous devez soumettre votre candidature avant le 31 mars. (You must submit your application before March 31st.)

• L'architecte a soumis les plans pour approbation. (The architect submitted the plans for approval.)
• Nous allons soumettre une proposition commerciale à notre client. (We are going to submit a business proposal to our client.)
• Tous les étudiants doivent soumettre leur mémoire à la fin du semestre. (All students must submit their dissertation at the end of the semester.)

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

So, are there other ways to say “to offer” in French?

Our guide has walked you through the most common and versatile verbs for 'to offer' in French, from the directness of offrir to the nuance of proposer. However, the French language is rich with synonyms and context-specific terms that can add precision and color to your speech.

The best way to master these verbs is to pay attention to context. When you encounter a new word for 'offer', ask yourself: What is being offered? A physical gift, a service, a suggestion, a price? Observing these verbs in real-life situations will solidify your understanding.

As you read French books, watch movies, or listen to native speakers, keep an ear out for how they make offers. You might discover idiomatic expressions or formal phrases that aren't in standard textbooks, giving you a deeper connection to the culture.

For a more exhaustive list of synonyms and related expressions, online resources are invaluable. A dictionary site like Larousse or WordReference for the verb offrir can reveal a web of related terms and example sentences to explore.

We hope this article has been a helpful offering to you on your language journey. To conclude, here’s a fitting French proverb that speaks to the spirit of giving: Donner, c'est ne jamais s'en souvenir ; recevoir, c'est ne jamais l'oublier. (To give is to never remember; to receive is to never forget.)