Utiliser is undoubtedly the most common way to say "to use" in French. But what if you want to express a more nuanced idea, or simply vary your vocabulary to sound more natural and sophisticated? French offers a rich array of verbs that can convey the concept of "using" in different contexts.

Mastering these alternatives will not only make your French sound more fluent but also allow you to express yourself with greater precision. Whether you're talking about employing a tool, consuming a resource, or even resorting to a trick, there's a perfect verb for the occasion.

Let's dive into 9 versatile ways to say "to use" in French, and discover how to wield them like a native speaker!

The standard 'to use' – utiliser

The standard “to use” – utiliser

Utiliser is the most straightforward and common verb for “to use” in French.

As a regular -er verb, utiliser follows predictable conjugation patterns, making it one of the easier verbs to master.

You can confidently use utiliser in almost any situation, from casual conversation to formal writing, to describe the act of employing something.

Grammatically, utiliser is a transitive verb, which means it always takes a direct object. You use what? or use whom? The answer is the direct object.

It's your go-to verb for describing the use of objects, tools, methods, resources, and even time. Think of it as the most versatile option.

While utiliser is broadly applicable, a close alternative is se servir de, which often implies “to make use of” or “to help oneself to something.” However, utiliser remains the more general and direct choice.

Sometimes, a more specific verb might be better than utiliser. For instance, employer for using personnel, or manier for handling something with skill. However, utiliser is rarely incorrect.

In today's world, especially with technology, utiliser is an indispensable verb for describing interaction with devices, software, and information.

Mastering utiliser will significantly enhance your ability to express daily actions and interactions in French with clarity and precision.

💡 * J'utilise mon ordinateur tous les jours. (I use my computer every day.)

Elle utilise une nouvelle méthode pour apprendre le français. (She is using a new method to learn French.)

Nous utilisons des outils spécifiques pour ce travail. (We use specific tools for this job.)

Pouvez-vous utiliser ce logiciel ? (Can you use this software?)

Il faut utiliser son temps à bon escient. (One must use their time wisely.)

The 'to employ' or 'to use' (often interchangeably) – employer

The French verb employer is versatile, primarily meaning 'to employ' or 'to hire,' but also frequently used to mean 'to use,' sometimes interchangeably with utiliser.

In its most direct and common usage, employer refers to providing work or hiring someone. It's the standard verb when talking about job creation or a company's workforce.

Beyond employment, employer can also mean 'to use,' especially when referring to a method, a skill, a word, or even one's time or energy. It implies a deliberate application.

While often interchangeable with utiliser for 'to use,' employer can sometimes carry a slightly more formal or intentional connotation. You might employer des mots (use words) carefully, or employer une stratégie (use a strategy).

When speaking about jobs, you would say, Cette entreprise emploie plus de 500 personnes (This company employs more than 500 people), or Ils l'ont employé pour le poste (They hired him for the position).

In the sense of 'to use,' examples include employer son temps (to use one's time), employer une nouvelle méthode (to use a new method), or employer un ton sarcastique (to use a sarcastic tone).

Employer is a regular -er verb, but it follows the pattern where the 'y' changes to 'i' before a silent 'e' in some conjugations (e.g., j'emploie, tu emploies, il/elle emploie, ils/elles emploient). The 'y' remains for nous employons and vous employez.

💡 * L'entreprise emploie de nombreux ingénieurs. (The company employs many engineers.)

Il faut employer de nouvelles techniques. (One must use new techniques.)

Nous employons cette stratégie depuis longtemps. (We have been using this strategy for a long time.)

Elle a été employée comme graphiste. (She was hired as a graphic designer.)

N'emploie pas ce mot, il est offensant. (Don't use that word, it's offensive.)

The 'to make use of' or 'to avail oneself of' – se servir de

The verb se servir de is a versatile French expression that literally means 'to serve oneself with,' but is commonly translated as 'to make use of' or 'to avail oneself of'.

As indicated by the se, se servir de is a reflexive verb, meaning the action reflects back on the subject. This makes it distinct from the non-reflexive servir (to serve).

A crucial aspect of se servir de is the preposition de that always follows it. You 'make use of something', so it's always se servir de quelque chose.

While often simply translated as 'to use,' se servir de carries a nuance of intentionally employing something, or even taking advantage of it. It implies a conscious act of utilization, often for one's own benefit.

It's important to note the difference between se servir de and the more general verb utiliser (to use). Utiliser is a direct transitive verb, while se servir de requires the preposition de and emphasizes the subject's agency in using something for their own purpose or needs.

Se servir de conjugates like the regular -IR verb servir, with the added reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). For example: Je me sers, Tu te sers, Il/Elle/On se sert, Nous nous servons, Vous vous servez, Ils/Elles se servent.

💡 * Je me sers de mon ordinateur pour travailler. (I use my computer to work.)

Elle s'est servie de ses connaissances pour résoudre le problème. (She made use of her knowledge to solve the problem.)

Nous nous servons de ce dictionnaire pour apprendre le français. (We use this dictionary to learn French.)

Servez-vous de cette occasion pour améliorer vos compétences. (Make use of this opportunity to improve your skills.)

Ils se servent de l'application tous les jours. (They use the app every day.)

The 'to resort to' or 'to have recourse to' – recourir à

The French verb recourir à directly translates to “to resort to” or “to have recourse to” in English. It signifies turning to something or someone as a solution, a help, or a final option when other avenues are exhausted.

A key aspect of using recourir correctly is its inseparable link with the preposition à. This means you must always say recourir à quelque chose/quelqu'un (to resort to something/someone), mirroring the English 'resort to'.

Recourir à is generally employed in more formal or serious situations, often implying a necessity to find a solution to a problem or difficulty. It suggests that other simpler or preferred options may not be available or have failed.

Like its root verb courir (to run), recourir à is an irregular verb. Its conjugation follows a similar pattern, making it important to learn its specific forms for accurate usage across different tenses.

💡 * Il a dû recourir à la force. (He had to resort to force.)

Nous recourons souvent à des méthodes innovantes. (We often resort to innovative methods.)

Elle n'hésite pas à recourir à ses amis en cas de besoin. (She doesn't hesitate to turn to her friends in case of need.)

En dernier recours, ils ont recouru aux tribunaux. (As a last resort, they resorted to the courts.)

Face à la crise, le gouvernement a dû recourir à des mesures exceptionnelles. (Facing the crisis, the government had to resort to exceptional measures.)

The 'to make use of' (more formal) – faire usage de

When you want to express 'to make use of' or 'to use' in a more formal or administrative context, the phrase faire usage de is your go-to option in French.

Faire usage de literally translates to 'to make usage of' and conveys the idea of utilizing something, often a right, a tool, or information, with a sense of deliberateness.

This phrase belongs to a higher register of language. It's commonly found in legal documents, official communications, academic writing, or when speaking about the exercise of a right or a faculty.

The structure is faire usage de + noun/pronoun. The preposition de is crucial here and is always followed by the object being used, e.g., faire usage de ses droits (to make use of one's rights).

While utiliser (to use) is a common and versatile verb for everyday situations, faire usage de adds a layer of formality and often implies a more deliberate, official, or authorized act of employing something.

Reserve faire usage de for situations demanding precision, formality, or when discussing the application of rules, rights, specific instruments, or capabilities. It elevates the tone of your discourse.

💡 * Il est recommandé de faire usage de gants de protection. (It is recommended to make use of protective gloves.)

Le citoyen peut faire usage de son droit de vote. (The citizen can make use of their right to vote.)

Ils ont fait usage de leur influence pour obtenir le poste. (They made use of their influence to get the position.)

Veuillez faire usage des poubelles prévues à cet effet. (Please make use of the bins provided for this purpose.)

Le logiciel permet de faire usage de diverses fonctionnalités. (The software allows for the use of various features.)

The 'to make the most of' or 'to take advantage of' – mettre à profit

The French expression mettre à profit literally translates to 'to put to profit,' but it's best understood as 'to make the most of,' 'to utilize effectively,' or 'to take advantage of' in a positive sense.

Unlike the English 'to take advantage of,' which can sometimes carry a negative connotation of exploitation, mettre à profit almost exclusively implies a beneficial, constructive, and often strategic utilization of something. It's about optimizing a resource or situation for a good outcome.

This versatile phrase is frequently used when referring to time, skills, experiences, opportunities, or resources. You mettez à profit your talents, your free time, or lessons learned to achieve a goal or improve a situation.

It's important not to confuse mettre à profit with profiter de. While profiter de can mean 'to benefit from,' it can also mean 'to take advantage of' someone or a situation in a manipulative or selfish way. Mettre à profit always maintains its positive, proactive sense of effective utilization.

Therefore, when you want to express the idea of maximizing the value or potential of something in a positive and productive manner, mettre à profit is the perfect French phrase to use.

💡 *Il met à profit chaque minute de son temps libre pour apprendre le français. (He makes the most of every minute of his free time to learn French.)
*Elle a su mettre à profit son expérience pour décrocher ce poste. (She knew how to make the most of her experience to land this job.)
*Nous devrions mettre à profit cette opportunité unique. (We should take advantage of this unique opportunity.)
*Comment puis-je mettre à profit mes compétences en marketing ? (How can I make the most of my marketing skills?)

The 'to exploit' or 'to develop' (resources) – exploiter

The French verb exploiter holds a dual meaning, which can sometimes be confusing for learners. It can mean 'to exploit' in a negative sense, but also 'to develop' or 'to utilize' resources in a neutral or positive way.

In its negative sense, exploiter means 'to take unfair advantage of' someone or something, often for personal gain. This can apply to people (e.g., exploiter la main d'œuvre - to exploit labor) or situations.

Conversely, when used with resources, exploiter often translates to 'to develop,' 'to utilize,' or 'to operate.' For instance, exploiter une mine means 'to operate a mine,' and exploiter un potentiel means 'to develop a potential.' The context is key to understanding the intended meaning.

💡 * Il exploite ses employés pour maximiser ses profits. (He exploits his employees to maximize his profits.)

Cette entreprise exploite les ressources naturelles de manière durable. (This company develops natural resources sustainably.)

Nous devons exploiter pleinement notre potentiel. (We must fully exploit/develop our potential.)

Les enfants sont souvent exploités dans les pays pauvres. (Children are often exploited in poor countries.)

Le fermier exploite ses terres depuis des générations. (The farmer has been working/operating his land for generations.)

The 'to handle' or 'to wield' – manier

The verb manier translates to 'to handle,' 'to wield,' or 'to manipulate' in English. It specifically implies a certain skill, dexterity, or mastery in managing something, whether tangible or intangible.

Most commonly, manier refers to the act of handling or wielding a physical object, especially one that requires skill or precision. This could be a tool, a weapon, a musical instrument, or even a vehicle.

Beyond the physical, manier can also be used metaphorically to describe handling or managing abstract concepts, situations, or even people. It suggests a skillful or delicate approach to a complex or sensitive matter.

Unlike simply utiliser (to use), manier emphasizes the manner in which something is handled, highlighting the skill, care, or expertise involved. It implies more than just mere usage; it suggests a controlled and often proficient interaction.

💡 * Il manie l'épée avec une grande dextérité. (He wields the sword with great dexterity.)

Elle sait manier les mots pour convaincre. (She knows how to handle words to convince.)

Ce chirurgien manie le scalpel avec précision. (This surgeon handles the scalpel with precision.)

Il faut savoir manier cette situation délicate. (One must know how to handle this delicate situation.)

Les enfants apprennent à manier les ciseaux à l'école. (Children learn to handle scissors at school.)

The 'to consume' or 'to use up' – consommer

The French verb consommer primarily translates to 'to consume' or 'to use up' in English. It's a regular -er verb, making its conjugations straightforward once you know the pattern.

One of its most common applications is when referring to eating or drinking. You'll hear it often in contexts related to food intake or dietary habits.

Consommer also applies broadly to the use of resources, energy, or manufactured goods. This includes everything from electricity to clothing, emphasizing the act of utilization or depletion.

Beyond direct usage, consommer is the root of the noun le consommateur (male consumer) or la consommatrice (female consumer), highlighting its importance in economic discussions and marketing.

💡 *Nous consommons beaucoup de fruits et légumes. (We consume a lot of fruits and vegetables.)
*Cette voiture consomme trop d'essence. (This car consumes too much gasoline.)
*Les entreprises consomment de l'énergie pour fonctionner. (Businesses consume energy to operate.)
*Il faut consommer avec modération. (One must consume with moderation.)
*Les consommateurs recherchent des produits durables. (Consumers are looking for sustainable products.)

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'to use' in French. But the French language is rich with nuances, and you might encounter other terms, from more formal ones, to regional expressions, to contemporary slang that this article might not cover!

You can also do an online search for "comment dire utiliser en ___", followed by a specific Francophone country or region, to find local expressions and variations.

You might discover interesting synonyms for utiliser or related verbs during your research. As always, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express the idea of 'to use' or 'to make use of'.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of synonyms for utiliser, or verbs related to 'making use of' something, the WordReference entry for utiliser is an excellent starting point!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the various ways to say 'to use' in French. Here’s a fitting quote from Jean-Paul Sartre on the nature of words: "Les mots sont des outils." (Words are tools.)

9 ways to say "to use" in French