When you first start learning French, you'll quickly discover that regarder is the go-to verb for 'to watch'. And it's true, it's incredibly versatile! But what if you want to say you're watching a specific type of show, or perhaps keeping an eye on something, or even just observing? Just like in English, where we have 'watch', 'see', 'observe', 'gaze', and 'monitor', French also offers a rich palette of verbs to express different shades of 'watching'. Mastering these will help you sound much more natural and precise. Ready to expand your French vocabulary? Let's explore 9 different ways to say 'to watch' in French!

The standard 'to watch' (a TV, a show, a person) – regarder

Regarder is the most common and versatile French verb for 'to watch' or 'to look at'.

Regarder is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. It is transitive, meaning it typically takes a direct object.

You can use regarder in almost any situation where you would say 'to watch' or 'to look at' in English, whether it's watching TV, a movie, a person, or an object.

While regarder means 'to watch' or 'to look at' with intention, it's important not to confuse it with voir, which means 'to see' (often without intention).

The key difference lies in intentionality. You regarder something when you choose to direct your gaze or attention to it. You voir something when it simply enters your field of vision, often by chance or without active effort.

For example, you regarder a film (you actively watch it), but you might voir a bird fly by your window (it just happened to appear). Similarly, you regarder a painting in a museum (you examine it), but you voir a friend across the street (you spot them).

Here are some common phrases using regarder:

Regarder la télévision (to watch TV)
Regarder un film (to watch a movie)
Regarder quelqu'un (to look at someone/watch someone)
Regarder l'heure (to look at the time)

When used reflexively, se regarder means 'to look at oneself' (e.g., Elle se regarde dans le miroir - She looks at herself in the mirror) or 'to look at each other' (e.g., Ils se sont regardés - They looked at each other).

Don't overthink it! If you're actively directing your attention to something visually, regarder is almost always the correct verb to use. It's your reliable go-to for 'to watch' or 'to look at'.

💡 * Je regarde la télévision tous les soirs. (I watch TV every evening.)

Elle regarde les enfants jouer dans le jardin. (She watches the children play in the garden.)

Nous avons regardé un excellent film hier soir. (We watched an excellent movie last night.)

Regarde ! Il y a un écureuil dans l'arbre. (Look! There's a squirrel in the tree.)

Pourquoi tu me regardes comme ça ? (Why are you looking at me like that?)

The 'to observe' or 'to watch carefully' – observer

The French verb observer directly translates to 'to observe' or 'to watch carefully.' It implies a more focused and intentional act of watching than simply 'to see' or 'to look.'

Observer is used when you are paying close attention to something, often with the intention of understanding, analyzing, or monitoring it. This can apply to scientific observations, watching an event unfold, or noticing details about people or surroundings.

While regarder means 'to look at' or 'to watch' in a general sense (like watching TV), observer suggests a deeper, more analytical gaze. You regarder un film, but you observer le comportement d'un animal.

It's commonly used in contexts like science, nature, and social interactions. For example, you might observer les étoiles (observe the stars), observer les coutumes locales (observe local customs), or observer le silence (observe silence, meaning to respect it).

As a regular -er verb, observer follows standard conjugation patterns, making it relatively straightforward to use in various tenses.

💡 * J'observe les oiseaux dans le jardin. (I observe the birds in the garden.)

Les scientifiques observent les phénomènes naturels. (Scientists observe natural phenomena.)

Il faut observer les règles de sécurité. (One must observe the safety rules.)

Elle aime observer les gens passer. (She likes to watch people pass by.)

The 'to supervise' or 'to monitor' – surveiller

The 'to supervise' or 'to monitor' – surveiller

Surveiller is a versatile French verb that directly translates to 'to supervise' or 'to monitor' in English, encompassing a wide range of watchful observation.

When you surveiller someone, you are typically supervising them, watching over them to ensure safety, correct performance of a task, or appropriate behavior. This applies to children, employees, or students.

Beyond people, surveiller is also used to monitor a situation, a process, or an object. For instance, you might surveiller a patient's health, a system's performance, or the progress of a project.

Surveiller is a regular -ER verb, meaning its conjugation follows a predictable pattern (like parler), making it relatively straightforward for learners to master.

You'll frequently encounter surveiller in contexts related to security (surveiller la maison - to watch the house), health (surveiller sa ligne - to watch one's weight), or general oversight (surveiller les travaux - to supervise the work).

In essence, surveiller implies a careful, watchful observation, whether for control, safety, or information gathering, making it a crucial verb for expressing oversight in French.

💡 * Il doit surveiller les enfants. (He has to supervise the children.)

Nous surveillons l'évolution de la situation. (We are monitoring the evolution of the situation.)

Le gardien surveille l'entrée du bâtiment. (The guard monitors the building's entrance.)

Elle doit surveiller son alimentation pour sa santé. (She has to watch her diet for her health.)

Le chef de projet surveille attentivement les travaux en cours. (The project manager carefully supervises the ongoing work.)

The 'to spy on' or 'to watch furtively' – épier

The French verb épier translates to 'to spy on,' 'to watch furtively,' or 'to observe secretly' in English.

Unlike the more general 'to watch' (regarder), épier specifically implies observing someone or something secretly and without their knowledge. It suggests a hidden or stealthy form of observation.

This verb often carries a connotation of intrusion, curiosity, or even suspicion. The observer usually has an ulterior motive or is trying to discover something, making it a non-neutral observation.

Épier is a regular -er verb. However, its stem changes slightly in some conjugations (e.g., j'épie, tu épies, il/elle épie, but nous épions, vous épiez). It typically takes a direct object.

💡 * Il épiait ses voisins depuis sa fenêtre. (He was spying on his neighbors from his window.)* Ne m'épionne pas comme ça ! (Don't spy on me like that!)* Elle a surpris quelqu'un en train de l'épier. (She caught someone spying on her.)* Les enfants aiment épier les oiseaux dans le jardin. (Children like to watch the birds furtively in the garden.)

The 'to watch out for' or 'to keep an eye out' – guetter

The verb guetter is a versatile French verb that translates to 'to watch out for,' 'to keep an eye out,' or even 'to stalk' in English. It's crucial for expressing focused observation.

Unlike simply regarder (to look) or voir (to see), guetter implies a focused, often anticipatory act of watching. You are actively observant, waiting for something specific to happen or appear, making it more dynamic than a passive glance.

This verb often carries a connotation of vigilance, surveillance, or being on the lookout. It can be used in various contexts, from eagerly awaiting someone's arrival to cautiously observing a situation, sometimes even with a hint of secrecy.

You might guetter a bus, the arrival of a friend, or an opportune moment. It's about being attentive and prepared for what you are watching for, highlighting an active state of readiness rather than casual observation.

Guetter is a transitive verb, meaning it directly takes an object. For example, guetter le facteur (to watch out for the postman) or guetter l'occasion (to watch for the opportunity) are common and grammatically correct constructions.

💡 * Je guette l'arrivée du train. (I'm watching out for the train's arrival.)

Il guette une opportunité pour changer de travail. (He's keeping an eye out for an opportunity to change jobs.)

Les enfants guettaient le Père Noël avec impatience. (The children were eagerly watching out for Santa Claus.)

Guette bien, il ne faut pas le rater ! (Watch carefully, you mustn't miss him!)

Le chat guettait la souris, prêt à bondir. (The cat was stalking the mouse, ready to pounce.)

The 'to view' (a film, video) – visionner

When you want to say 'to view' a film, a video, or any recorded content on a screen in French, the verb visionner is often the most appropriate choice. It directly translates to 'to view' or 'to screen' in this context.

While regarder is the general verb for 'to watch' or 'to look at' (e.g., regarder la télévision, regarder un match), visionner specifically implies viewing recorded content, often with an intention of review or analysis. You visionner a film, a video, a documentary, or surveillance footage, but you regarder a live play or a person.

Visionner carries a slightly more formal or technical tone than regarder. It's frequently used in professional settings, such as film production, journalism, or security, when discussing the act of reviewing visual media.

Visionner is a regular -ER verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er (e.g., je visionne, tu visionnes, il/elle visionne, nous visionnons, vous visionnez, ils/elles visionnent).

💡 * J'ai visionné le nouveau film hier soir. (I viewed the new film last night.)

Le réalisateur visionne les rushes chaque jour. (The director views the daily rushes.)

Pourriez-vous visionner cette vidéo de surveillance ? (Could you view this surveillance video?)

Nous allons visionner le documentaire en classe. (We are going to view the documentary in class.)

As-tu visionné l'épisode que je t'ai recommandé ? (Did you view the episode I recommended to you?)

The 'to contemplate' or 'to gaze at' – contempler

The French verb contempler translates to “to contemplate,” “to gaze at,” or “to behold.” It implies a deeper, more reflective form of observation than simply looking.

Unlike regarder (to look), contempler suggests a prolonged, thoughtful, and often admiring observation. You contemplate a beautiful landscape, a work of art, or even an idea, rather than just glance at it.

As a regular -er verb, contempler follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to learn for French speakers.

💡 * Elle aimait contempler les étoiles la nuit. (She loved contemplating the stars at night.)

Nous avons contemplé le coucher de soleil sur l'océan. (We gazed at the sunset over the ocean.)

Il passe des heures à contempler son jardin. (He spends hours contemplating his garden.)

C'est une œuvre d'art à contempler longuement. (It's a work of art to contemplate for a long time.)

Contempler la nature apporte la paix intérieure. (Contemplating nature brings inner peace.)

The 'to stare at' or 'to fix one's gaze on' – fixer du regard

The expression fixer du regard translates directly to “to fix with the gaze” or, more commonly, “to stare at” or “to fix one’s gaze on.”

Unlike simply regarder (to look), fixer du regard suggests an intense, sustained, and often unwavering gaze. It implies concentration, curiosity, or sometimes even a challenging or uncomfortable intensity.

This idiomatic verb phrase is typically used to describe directing one's eyes intently at someone or something. The object of the gaze follows the verb fixer, and du regard specifies the manner of fixing.

While it can be neutral, fixer du regard often carries a connotation of intensity that can be perceived as scrutinizing, challenging, or even intimidating, depending on the context and the expression on the person's face.

💡 * Il l'a fixée du regard sans dire un mot. (He stared at her without saying a word.)

Elle fixait du regard l'horizon, perdue dans ses pensées. (She fixed her gaze on the horizon, lost in her thoughts.)

Le professeur fixait du regard l'élève qui bavardait. (The teacher stared at the student who was chatting.)

Ne me fixe pas du regard comme ça, c'est gênant. (Don't stare at me like that, it's embarrassing.)

The 'to witness' or 'to attend' (an event) – assister à

In French, the verb to express 'to attend' or 'to witness an event' is assister à. This verb is commonly used when someone is present at an event, a show, a meeting, or a ceremony. The crucial element here is the preposition à (to/at), which is always used with assister in this context.

The preposition à is non-negotiable when assister means 'to attend.' It signifies that you are present at or to something. Forgetting the à or using a direct object after assister would change its meaning or make it grammatically incorrect in this context.

A common pitfall for English speakers is to confuse assister à with the English verb 'to assist' (meaning 'to help'). In French, 'to help' or 'to assist someone' is typically translated by the verb aider. So, while you assister à a concert, you would aider a friend with their homework.

Assister à is used for a wide range of events. You might assister à un cours (attend a class), assister à un match (attend a game), assister à une réunion (attend a meeting), or assister à un spectacle (attend a show). It always implies being a spectator or participant at an event.

💡 * J'ai assisté à un concert hier soir. (I attended a concert last night.)

Elle assiste à toutes les réunions importantes. (She attends all important meetings.)

Nous avons assisté à un événement historique. (We witnessed a historic event.)

Les étudiants doivent assister aux cours régulièrement. (Students must attend classes regularly.)

Vous allez assister à une présentation fascinante. (You are going to attend a fascinating presentation.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “to watch” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

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

You might find some interesting synonyms for regarder 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 observation and watching.

And if you’re looking for more ways to say “to watch,” or verbs related to observation in French, the WordReference entry for regarder 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 a French proverb: Il n'y a pas de meilleur enseignant que l'observation. (There is no better teacher than observation.)

9 ways to say "to watch" in French