Ouvrir is the most common way to say "to open" in French. But there are several other options, each with its own nuances and contexts.

As you learn French, you'll encounter various situations where you might need to express the idea of opening something, from a door to a bank account, or even a discussion!

Let’s explore 9 different ways to say "to open" in French, helping you choose the perfect word for any occasion!

The standard 'to open' – ouvrir

The verb ouvrir is the most common and versatile French verb for 'to open'.

While an irregular -ir verb, ouvrir follows a pattern similar to couvrir (to cover), découvrir (to discover), and souffrir (to suffer). This makes its conjugation somewhat predictable despite its irregularity.

Most frequently, ouvrir is used for physically opening things such as doors, windows, books, or packages. It implies a physical action of making something accessible or revealing its contents.

Beyond physical actions, ouvrir also extends to more abstract or figurative meanings. You can 'open' a bank account (ouvrir un compte), 'open' a discussion (ouvrir une discussion), or even 'open' your mind (ouvrir son esprit).

Ouvrir is typically a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object (e.g., ouvrir la porte - to open the door). It can also be used pronominally as s'ouvrir (to open itself, to be opened), for example, La porte s'ouvre (The door opens).

The past participle of ouvrir is ouvert. This is crucial for forming compound tenses like the passé composé, e.g., J'ai ouvert la fenêtre (I opened the window).

Several common French expressions use ouvrir, such as ouvrir les yeux (to open one's eyes, literally or figuratively, meaning to realize something) or ouvrir la bouche (to open one's mouth, to speak).

💡 * J'ai ouvert la porte. (I opened the door.)

Elle ouvre toujours les fenêtres le matin. (She always opens the windows in the morning.)

Nous allons ouvrir un nouveau magasin le mois prochain. (We are going to open a new store next month.)

Il faut ouvrir son esprit aux nouvelles idées. (One must open one's mind to new ideas.)

La boutique ouvre à 9 heures. (The shop opens at 9 o'clock.)

The 'to unwrap' or 'to unpack' – déballer

The verb déballer is a versatile and common French verb that means 'to unwrap' or 'to unpack.' It's essential for describing actions related to opening packages, gifts, or settling into a new place.

When you receive a present, you déballer it. This applies to any item encased in wrapping, like a package from a store or a gift on a special occasion. Think of removing the paper, tape, or box to reveal what's inside.

Beyond gifts, déballer is also used when you arrive somewhere new and need to take items out of bags or boxes. For instance, after a trip, you déballer your suitcase. When moving house, you déballer your belongings from moving boxes.

A common phrase is déballer ses affaires (to unpack one's things or belongings), which is frequently used in everyday conversation. It can also be used figuratively, though less commonly, to 'spill the beans' or 'reveal everything,' similar to 'unloading' information.

Déballer 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 once you know the basic -ER verb conjugations.

Whether you're excitedly opening a gift or diligently settling into a new home, déballer is a practical verb that you'll hear and use frequently in French.

💡 * Je dois déballer mes cadeaux de Noël. (I need to unwrap my Christmas presents.)

Elle a déballé sa valise dès son arrivée. (She unpacked her suitcase as soon as she arrived.)

N'oublie pas de déballer les courses. (Don't forget to unpack the groceries.)

Nous allons déballer toutes les boîtes ce week-end. (We are going to unpack all the boxes this weekend.)

Les enfants étaient impatients de déballer leurs jouets. (The children were impatient to unwrap their toys.)

The 'to unfold' or 'to spread out' – déplier

The French verb déplier directly translates to “to unfold” or “to spread out.” It’s a useful verb for describing the action of opening something that was previously folded or compact.

It implies taking something from a folded state and making it flat or open. Think of it as the opposite of plier (to fold).

You’ll commonly use déplier when talking about objects like maps (une carte), newspapers (un journal), clothes (des vêtements), or even an umbrella (un parapluie) that you open up.

As a regular -er verb, déplier follows the standard conjugation patterns, making it relatively straightforward to learn once you know the basics of -er verbs.

Understanding déplier is often easier when you know its direct opposite: plier, which means “to fold.” These two verbs describe complementary actions.

Whether you’re unfolding a beach towel or spreading out a picnic blanket, déplier is the perfect verb to express this action in French.

💡 * Il a déplié la carte pour trouver son chemin. (He unfolded the map to find his way.)

Elle déplie toujours son journal au petit-déjeuner. (She always unfolds her newspaper at breakfast.)

Pouvez-vous déplier la table, s'il vous plaît? (Can you unfold the table, please?)

J'ai déplié mes vêtements avant de les ranger. (I unfolded my clothes before putting them away.)

Le magicien a déplié un foulard de sa manche. (The magician unfolded a scarf from his sleeve.)

The 'to unlock' – déverrouiller

The French verb déverrouiller directly translates to 'to unlock' or 'to unbolt' in English. It is the direct opposite of verrouiller (to lock).

As a regular -ER verb, déverrouiller follows standard conjugation patterns. This makes it relatively easy to learn once you understand the basics of French verb conjugation.

You'll frequently encounter and use déverrouiller when referring to unlocking devices like phones or computers, or opening secured physical objects such as doors, gates, or even a car.

💡 *Je dois déverrouiller mon téléphone. (I need to unlock my phone.)
*Elle a déverrouillé la porte d'entrée. (She unlocked the front door.)
*Pouvez-vous déverrouiller l'ordinateur s'il vous plaît ? (Can you unlock the computer, please?)
*Nous allons déverrouiller le portail. (We are going to unlock the gate.)

The 'to half-open' or 'to crack open' – entrouvrir

The 'to half-open' or 'to crack open' – entrouvrir

The French verb entrouvrir means 'to half-open' or 'to crack open.' It specifically describes the action of opening something only partially, not fully.

You will frequently encounter entrouvrir when referring to doors, windows, or even eyes and lips, indicating a slight or narrow opening.

Similar to its root verb ouvrir ('to open'), entrouvrir is an irregular verb. It follows the same conjugation pattern as ouvrir (e.g., j'entrouvre, tu entrouvres, il/elle/on entrouvre).

The prefix en- in entrouvrir adds the crucial nuance of 'partially' or 'slightly,' distinguishing it from the broader meaning of ouvrir (to open fully).

💡 * Elle a entrouvert la porte pour voir qui était là.

La fenêtre était entrouverte, laissant entrer une brise légère.

Il a entrouvert les yeux lentement au réveil.

Ses lèvres s'entrouvrirent pour murmurer un secret.

The 'to spread apart' (like curtains) – écarter

The verb écarter in French primarily means 'to spread apart,' 'to move aside,' or 'to separate.' It implies creating space between two or more things that were previously close or joined.

One common use of écarter is to describe the action of opening things that are drawn together, like curtains, drapes, or even branches. It's about moving them away from each other to reveal what's behind.

Beyond objects, écarter can also refer to separating people, perhaps to make way, or even spreading limbs apart. For instance, a doctor might ask you to écarter les bras (spread your arms).

Figuratively, écarter takes on a meaning of 'to dismiss,' 'to rule out,' or 'to discard.' You might écarter une hypothèse (rule out a hypothesis) or écarter un candidat (eliminate a candidate) from consideration.

From physically spreading things apart to metaphorically dismissing ideas, écarter is a versatile verb in French, crucial for expressing various forms of separation or removal.

💡 *Elle a écarté les rideaux pour laisser entrer la lumière. (She spread apart the curtains to let the light in.)
*Le policier a écarté la foule pour laisser passer l'ambulance. (The policeman moved the crowd aside to let the ambulance pass.)
*Nous devons écarter cette option, elle n'est pas viable. (We must rule out this option, it's not viable.)
*Écarte tes jambes s'il te plaît. (Spread your legs, please.)
*Il faut écarter les mauvaises herbes du jardin. (We need to remove the weeds from the garden.)

The 'to split open' – fendre

The French verb fendre literally means "to split open," "to cleave," or "to crack." It describes the action of separating something into two or more parts, often forcefully or along a natural line of weakness.

Primarily, fendre is used for physical actions like splitting wood (fendre du bois), cracking a rock, or even splitting a crowd. However, it also has figurative applications, such as fendre le cœur (to break one's heart) or describing something that causes deep emotional pain.

The reflexive form, se fendre, means "to split oneself," "to crack," or "to become cracked." This is often used when an object cracks or splits on its own, like ice or glass, or when a person is splitting through something like a crowd.

💡 *Il a fendu le bois avec une hache. (He split the wood with an axe.)
*Le rocher s'est fendu en deux après le tremblement de terre. (The rock split in two after the earthquake.)
*Cette triste nouvelle lui a fendu le cœur. (This sad news broke his heart.)
*Le coureur a fendu la foule pour atteindre la ligne d'arrivée. (The runner split through the crowd to reach the finish line.)
*La glace a commencé à se fendre sous nos pieds. (The ice started to crack under our feet.)

The 'to inaugurate' or 'to officially open' – inaugurer

The verb inaugurer means 'to inaugurate' or 'to officially open'. It is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward for French learners.

This verb is primarily used to describe the formal opening of a new building, monument, exhibition, or event, often involving a ceremony or official gathering. Think of it as 'cutting the ribbon' for something significant.

Inaugurer typically applies to physical structures (e.g., a hospital, a bridge, a museum), significant public events (e.g., an exhibition, a festival), or even a new political mandate. It always implies a sense of public significance and formality.

While it means 'to open', it is distinct from ouvrir (to simply open something). Inaugurer carries the weight of formality, a public declaration, and often a celebratory beginning.

💡 *Le président va inaugurer le nouveau pont la semaine prochaine. (The president will inaugurate the new bridge next week.)
*Ils ont inauguré l'exposition d'art hier soir. (They inaugurated the art exhibition last night.)
*Le magasin a été inauguré avec une grande fête. (The store was inaugurated with a big party.)
*La nouvelle ligne de métro sera inaugurée en décembre. (The new metro line will be inaugurated in December.)

The 'to pierce' or 'to bore open' – percer

The French verb percer primarily translates to “to pierce” or “to bore open.” It implies making a hole or passing through something, often with a tool.

In its most common usage, percer is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. You might use it to talk about drilling a hole, piercing ears, or even breaking through a barrier. For example, percer un trou (to drill a hole) or percer les oreilles (to pierce ears).

Beyond its literal sense, percer can also mean “to break through” or “to unravel,” often in a more abstract or figurative context. This can refer to overcoming an obstacle or understanding a complex situation, such as percer un secret (to uncover a secret) or percer le mystère (to unravel the mystery).

A very common figurative use of percer is to mean “to become famous,” “to make a breakthrough,” or “to break into” a particular field (like music or film). When someone perce in an industry, they've successfully made their mark. For instance, percer dans le monde de la musique (to break into the music world).

Percer can also describe light or sound penetrating something. For example, a ray of light perce through the clouds, or a sound perce through the silence. This usage maintains the idea of something breaking through a surface or medium.

💡 * Il faut percer un trou dans le mur pour accrocher le tableau. (We need to drill a hole in the wall to hang the painting.)

Elle a percé ses oreilles hier. (She got her ears pierced yesterday.)

Les policiers ont réussi à percer le mystère de l'affaire. (The police managed to unravel the mystery of the case.)

Ce jeune artiste a percé très tôt dans le cinéma. (This young artist broke into cinema very early.)

Le soleil perce à travers les nuages après l'orage. (The sun pierces through the clouds after the storm.)

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

Are there other ways to say "to open" in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say "to open" in French. But there are other terms, from more specific verbs, to idiomatic expressions, to regional variations this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for "comment dire ouvrir en ___" followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms or expressions for ouvrir on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about opening things.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of opening, or words related to the act of opening in French, the WordReference entry for ouvrir is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Victor Hugo: Ouvrir une école, c'est fermer une prison. (To open a school is to close a prison.)

9 ways to say "to open" in French