Payer is the most common way to say “to pay” in French. But, as with many things in French, there are several other options that can add nuance and precision to your conversations.

Whether you're settling a bill at a restaurant, paying for groceries, or handling a more complex financial transaction, knowing the right verb will make you sound much more natural.

Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “to pay” in French, and when to use each one!

The standard 'to pay' – payer

The standard 'to pay' – payer

In French, payer is the most common and versatile verb for 'to pay' or 'to pay for'.

While payer is a regular -er verb, it features a slight spelling change in some conjugations: the 'y' changes to an 'i' before a silent 'e' (e.g., je paie, tu paies, il/elle paie, ils/elles paient). The nous and vous forms (nous payons, vous payez) retain the 'y'.

When you want to say you are paying for something, payer is used directly with the object, without the preposition 'pour'. For example, Je paie le café (I am paying for the coffee).

You can also use payer to indicate you are paying a person or an entity. For instance, Je paie le serveur (I am paying the waiter) or Nous payons nos impôts (We pay our taxes).

Here are some common phrases with payer:* Payer l'addition (to pay the bill)* Payer en espèces (to pay in cash)* Payer par carte (to pay by card)* Payer cher (to pay a lot/dearly, or to pay the price for something figurative)

Payer is a transitive verb, meaning it generally takes a direct object. You pay something (le café) or you pay someone (le serveur).

A frequent mistake for English speakers is to translate 'pay for' literally and use 'pour' after payer. Remember: Je paie le livre, not Je paie pour le livre.

Payer is suitable for all registers, from casual conversation to formal business contexts, making it your go-to verb for all things related to payment.

💡 * Je paie mes courses tous les samedis. (I pay for my groceries every Saturday.)* Nous avons payé l'addition au restaurant. (We paid the bill at the restaurant.)* Il paie son loyer par virement bancaire. (He pays his rent by bank transfer.)* Tu dois payer le caissier avant de partir. (You must pay the cashier before leaving.)* Elle a payé cher son erreur. (She paid dearly for her mistake.)

The 'to settle an account' or 'to pay a bill' – régler

The 'to settle an account' or 'to pay a bill' – régler

When learning French, you'll frequently encounter the verb régler. Its primary meaning revolves around the idea of 'to settle,' 'to pay,' or 'to adjust something,' making it incredibly versatile in daily conversations.

Most commonly, régler is used in financial contexts, meaning 'to pay a bill,' 'to settle an account,' or 'to clear a debt.' It's a formal and widely accepted term for handling payments.

Beyond finances, régler also means 'to adjust,' 'to regulate,' or 'to fix' something. Think of adjusting a watch, regulating a temperature, or setting a device.

It can also imply 'to resolve' or 'to sort out' a problem or a situation. For instance, régler un problème means 'to solve a problem,' highlighting its utility in conflict resolution or task completion.

As a regular -er verb, régler follows a straightforward conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to learn and apply in various tenses.

Understanding régler unlocks a broad range of expressions, from managing your finances to fine-tuning details and resolving complex issues in French.

💡 * Il faut régler la facture avant la fin du mois. (You have to pay the bill before the end of the month.)

• J'ai réglé mon compte. (I settled my account.)
• Pourriez-vous régler l'horloge ? Elle est en retard. (Could you adjust the clock? It's slow.)
• Nous devons régler ce problème rapidement. (We must solve this problem quickly.)
• Le mécanicien a réglé le moteur de ma voiture. (The mechanic adjusted my car's engine.)

The 'to pay a deposit or an installment' – verser

While payer is the general verb for 'to pay,' the verb verser specifically refers to 'to pay a deposit,' 'to pay an installment,' or generally 'to pay out' a sum of money.

Literally, verser means 'to pour' (like pouring water). This imagery helps understand its financial usage: you are 'pouring' or transferring money, often into an account or as part of a larger sum.

Good news for learners: verser is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. For example, in the present tense: je verse, tu verses, il/elle verse, nous versons, vous versez, ils/elles versent.

When you need to 'pay a deposit' or 'make a down payment' for something like an apartment, a car, or a reservation, verser is the correct verb. You'll often hear phrases like verser un acompte (to pay a down payment) or verser des arrhes (to pay a deposit, usually non-refundable).

Similarly, for 'paying an installment' or 'paying out a salary/sum of money,' verser is used. For instance, verser une somme (to pay a sum), verser un salaire (to pay a salary), or verser une pension (to pay a pension).

While payer is a general transaction, verser implies a more specific act of transferring funds, often into an account or as a specific type of payment (like an initial deposit or a regular installment). It's about the action of the money being moved from one place to another, rather than just settling a bill.

💡 * Nous devons verser un acompte pour réserver la voiture. (We need to pay a deposit to reserve the car.)

• L'entreprise verse les salaires le 25 de chaque mois. (The company pays salaries on the 25th of each month.)
• Il a versé une somme importante sur son compte d'épargne. (He deposited a large sum into his savings account.)
• Tu dois verser 50 euros d'arrhes. (You must pay a 50 euro deposit.)
• Le gouvernement verse des aides aux familles. (The government pays aid to families.)

The 'to disburse' or 'to spend money' – débourser

The verb débourser translates directly to 'to disburse' or 'to spend money', often implying an outlay of funds, frequently for a specific purpose or expense.

While 'dépenser' is a general verb for 'to spend', débourser carries a slightly more formal or administrative nuance. It's commonly used when referring to expenses, reimbursements, or funds paid out.

Débourser is a transitive verb, meaning it generally takes a direct object (the money, the sum, the amount). It conjugates like a regular -er verb.

💡 * Il a dû débourser une grosse somme pour les réparations. (He had to disburse a large sum for the repairs.)

• L'entreprise déboursera les frais de voyage. (The company will disburse the travel expenses.)
• Combien as-tu déboursé pour ce billet ? (How much did you spend for this ticket?)
• Nous avons déboursé 50 euros pour le dîner. (We spent 50 euros for dinner.)

The 'to pay off a debt' or 'to fulfill an obligation' – s'acquitter de

The 'to pay off a debt' or 'to fulfill an obligation' – s'acquitter de

S'acquitter de primarily means 'to pay off a debt' or 'to settle an account'. It implies the act of clearing what is owed, whether financially or otherwise.

Beyond financial debts, this verb is widely used to mean 'to fulfill an obligation,' 'to discharge a duty,' or 'to carry out a task'. It conveys the idea of completing something that is required or expected.

As a pronominal (reflexive) verb, it always uses a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) and is followed by the preposition de before the object of the debt or obligation.

This verb often carries a slightly formal or administrative tone, making it suitable for official contexts, legal documents, or when discussing serious responsibilities. It’s less common in very casual everyday speech compared to simpler alternatives like payer or faire.

💡 * Il doit s'acquitter de ses dettes avant la fin du mois. (He must pay off his debts before the end of the month.)

• Elle s'est acquittée de sa tâche avec diligence. (She discharged her duty diligently.)
• Nous devons nous acquitter de nos impôts chaque année. (We must pay our taxes every year.)
• Le juge s'est acquitté de son devoir en prononçant la sentence. (The judge fulfilled his duty by pronouncing the sentence.)
• S'acquitter d'une promesse est un signe de fiabilité. (Fulfilling a promise is a sign of reliability.)

The 'to reimburse' or 'to pay back' – rembourser

The 'to reimburse' or 'to pay back' – rembourser

The French verb rembourser directly translates to 'to reimburse,' 'to pay back,' or 'to refund.' It's a versatile verb primarily used in financial contexts but can also refer to returning objects.

Most commonly, rembourser is used when money is being returned or paid back. This includes repaying a loan, getting a refund for a purchase, or being compensated for expenses incurred.

Beyond money, rembourser can also be used in a less common but valid sense to mean 'to return' a borrowed item, implying the item is being given back to its owner, effectively 'paying back' the loan of the item.

As a regular -er verb, rembourser follows a straightforward conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy for learners to master once they understand its core meanings and uses.

💡 *Je dois te rembourser l'argent que tu m'as prêté. (I need to pay you back the money you lent me.)
*Le magasin m'a remboursé le produit défectueux. (The store refunded me for the defective product.)
*Pouvez-vous me rembourser mes frais de voyage ? (Can you reimburse me for my travel expenses?)
*Il a promis de me rembourser le livre demain. (He promised to return the book to me tomorrow.)

The 'to settle a debt completely' – solder

In French, the verb solder specifically means to settle a debt completely, to pay off an outstanding balance, or to clear an account. It implies a final resolution of a financial obligation.

While payer (to pay) is a general verb for making a payment, solder carries the nuance of bringing an account to zero or fully discharging a liability. It's often used in formal or financial contexts to indicate the completion of a payment process for a specific debt.

Solder is a regular -er verb, conjugated like parler. It is frequently used with nouns like une dette (a debt), une facture (an invoice), or un compte (an account) to emphasize the act of fully clearing them.

💡 * Il a finalement réussi à solder toutes ses dettes. (He finally managed to settle all his debts.)

• Nous devons solder la facture avant la fin du mois. (We must settle the invoice before the end of the month.)
• La banque lui a proposé un plan pour solder son prêt immobilier. (The bank offered him a plan to pay off his mortgage.)
• Après des années, elle a pu solder son ardoise. (After years, she was able to clear her tab/slate.)

The 'to liquidate a debt' – liquider

The verb liquider translates most directly to “to liquidate” in English. In a financial context, it specifically means “to settle” or “to pay off” a debt.

When you liquidez une dette, you are actively paying it off, clearing the amount owed. This implies a final resolution to the financial obligation, bringing the debt to an end.

While central to debt, liquider has broader applications. It can mean to liquidate assets (sell them for cash), liquidate a business (close it down), or even, colloquially, to 'get rid of' something or someone.

You might also hear the expression liquider les comptes, which means to settle accounts or square up financially, often implying a final balancing of books.

💡 * Il doit liquider toutes ses dettes avant de partir. (He must liquidate all his debts before leaving.)

• Nous avons réussi à liquider la dette du prêt immobilier. (We managed to pay off the mortgage debt.)
• L'entreprise a décidé de liquider ses stocks à bas prix. (The company decided to liquidate its inventory at low prices.)
• Le gouvernement essaie de liquider la dette publique. (The government is trying to liquidate the public debt.)

The 'to pay for' or 'to finance' – financer

The French verb financer directly translates to "to finance" or "to fund" in English. It's used when you are providing the money for something, often a significant expense, a project, or an investment.

Financer refers to the act of providing the necessary capital or funds for an endeavor. This could be anything from a personal loan to a large-scale corporate investment. It's about securing the financial means for something to happen or continue.

As a regular -er verb, financer follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively straightforward to use in various tenses. For example, in the present tense, it conjugates as je finance, tu finances, il/elle/on finance, nous finançons, vous financez, ils/elles financent.

While payer means "to pay" in a general sense (e.g., payer une facture - to pay a bill), financer specifically implies providing the source of money or the funding for something larger or more long-term. You finance a project, but you pay for a coffee.

You will commonly hear financer in contexts related to business, education, real estate, or government. For instance, one might financer des études (studies), un projet (a project), une entreprise (a company), or l'achat d'une maison (the purchase of a house).

💡 *Il faut financer ce voyage avant la fin du mois. (We need to finance this trip before the end of the month.)
*La banque a financé la construction du nouveau bâtiment. (The bank financed the construction of the new building.)
*Comment comptez-vous financer vos études à l'étranger? (How do you plan to finance your studies abroad?)
*Les fonds privés financent souvent la recherche scientifique. (Private funds often finance scientific research.)
*Nous avons réussi à financer notre startup grâce à des investisseurs. (We managed to finance our startup thanks to investors.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “to pay” in French. However, the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, from formal business transactions to everyday slang for settling a bill. There are many specific verbs depending on what is being paid for or the context.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire payer en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for payer 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, as some terms might be very specific or informal.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about paying, whether it's for a coffee, a bill, or a debt.

And if you’re looking for more specific ways to talk about financial transactions or different methods of payment in French, the WordReference entry for payer is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is a fitting thought to finish it with, courtesy of Benjamin Franklin: Payer ses dettes, c'est s'enrichir. (Paying one's debts is enriching oneself.)