Avec is likely the first word you learned when wanting to say “with” in French. But did you know there are many other ways to express this common concept?

From describing companionship to indicating a tool, or even implying a manner, "with" is a versatile word in any language. Mastering its nuances in French will greatly enhance your communication skills and help you sound more natural.

Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “with” in French!

The standard and most common 'with' – avec

The standard and most common 'with' – avec

In French, avec stands out as the most fundamental, common, and versatile word for 'with'. It's an indispensable preposition you'll encounter in virtually every conversation and text, making it one of the first words a French learner should master.

Its primary function is to indicate accompaniment, meaning 'in the company of' a person, or 'together with' an object or a group. This is its most straightforward and frequently used application.

Beyond simple accompaniment, avec is also crucial for expressing the manner in which an action is performed (e.g., 'with joy', 'with difficulty') or the instrument used to carry out an action (e.g., 'with a knife', 'with a pen'). This expands its utility significantly.

You'll quickly discover that avec is embedded in a multitude of common fixed expressions and idiomatic phrases. Mastering these will greatly enhance your fluency and comprehension of everyday French. Think of phrases like avec plaisir (with pleasure) or avec succès (with success).

Grammatically, avec functions as a preposition. This means it is always followed by a noun (e.g., le pain, la voiture) or a stressed pronoun (e.g., moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles). It never takes a direct object pronoun like le or la immediately after it.

While avec is highly versatile, it's important for learners to note that not every instance where English uses 'with' translates directly to avec in French. For example, 'to agree with someone' is être d'accord avec quelqu'un, but 'to be angry with someone' is often être en colère contre quelqu'un or envers quelqu'un. Always pay attention to specific verb constructions.

Despite these minor lexical nuances and specific verb constructions, avec remains a relatively straightforward and incredibly important word. Its consistent usage for accompaniment, manner, and instrumentation makes it a cornerstone of French communication that you'll quickly become comfortable with.

💡 * Je suis allé au cinéma avec mes amis. (I went to the cinema with my friends.)

• Elle écrit avec un stylo. (She writes with a pen.)
• Nous voyageons avec nos enfants. (We are traveling with our children.)
• Voulez-vous du café avec du sucre ? (Do you want coffee with sugar?)
• Il parle avec passion. (He speaks with passion.)

The 'with' that means 'at someone's place' – chez

The "with" that means "at someone's place" – chez

In French, the preposition chez is unique because it doesn't directly translate to "with." Instead, it specifically means "at the home of," "at the place of," or "among" a group of people. It's an essential word for indicating location related to people or establishments.

When referring to a person's home, chez is always followed by a stressed pronoun (e.g., chez moi, chez toi, chez lui, chez elle, chez nous, chez vous, chez eux, chez elles). This makes it very clear whose place you are referring to.

You can also use chez with proper nouns (names) or common nouns referring to people or professions. For instance, chez Marie means "at Marie's place," and chez le médecin means "at the doctor's (office/home)."

Beyond homes, chez extends to mean "at the establishment of" or "at the business of." This is common for shops, restaurants, or companies. For example, chez le boulanger (at the baker's shop) or chez Renault (at Renault, the company).

In a more figurative sense, chez can indicate a characteristic or a common trait "among" a group, or "in the mind/nature of" someone. For example, C'est typique chez les jeunes (It's typical among young people).

Understanding chez is key to sounding natural in French. It consolidates several English phrases ("at my place," "to his house," "at the doctor's," "at the company") into one versatile preposition. Mastering its use will significantly improve your fluency.

💡 * Je vais chez mes parents ce week-end. (I'm going to my parents' place this weekend.)

• Elle travaille chez le boulanger. (She works at the baker's.)
• Nous dînons chez Marc ce soir. (We're having dinner at Marc's tonight.)
• C'est une habitude chez les Français. (It's a habit among the French.)
• Le chien dort chez le vétérinaire. (The dog is sleeping at the vet's.)

The 'with' meaning 'in the company of' – en compagnie de

When you want to express 'with' in the sense of 'in the company of' someone or something, the French phrase en compagnie de is a perfect choice.

This phrase directly translates to 'in the company of' and is used to indicate that an action is performed alongside another person or group.

While avec is the most common and versatile word for 'with', en compagnie de offers a slightly more formal or elegant way to specify that you are accompanied by someone.

The structure is straightforward: en compagnie de is followed by a noun or a pronoun. For example, en compagnie de mes amis (in the company of my friends) or en compagnie de lui (in his company).

Using en compagnie de subtly emphasizes the presence and shared experience with others, making it useful when the 'company' aspect is important to highlight.

You'll often hear this phrase in descriptions of social gatherings, travel, or any situation where the presence of companions is a key detail.

Remember, while avec is your go-to for general 'with', en compagnie de is ideal when you specifically mean 'in the company of' or 'accompanied by'.

💡 * Elle a voyagé en compagnie de sa famille. (She traveled in the company of her family.)

• J'ai passé la soirée en compagnie d'amis. (I spent the evening in the company of friends.)
• Il est toujours heureux en compagnie de sa femme. (He is always happy in the company of his wife.)
• Nous avons visité le musée en compagnie d'un guide. (We visited the museum in the company of a guide.)

The 'with' implying 'accompanied by' – accompagné(e) de

When you want to express being 'accompanied by' or 'together with' someone or something in French, the phrase to use is accompagné(e) de.

Unlike a simple preposition like avec ('with'), accompagné(e) de functions as an adjective. This means it must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it describes. Hence the (e) and (s) in its spelling.

The preposition de is an essential part of this phrase. It connects the subject being accompanied to the person or thing providing the accompaniment, often translating to 'by' or 'with'. For instance, accompagné de mes amis means 'accompanied by my friends'.

This phrase is widely used in various contexts. Always ensure correct agreement: accompagné (masculine singular), accompagnée (feminine singular), accompagnés (masculine plural), and accompagnées (feminine plural).

💡 *Il est arrivé accompagné de sa femme. (He arrived accompanied by his wife.)
*Elle est accompagnée de ses parents. (She is accompanied by her parents.)
*Nous étions accompagnés de guides locaux. (We were accompanied by local guides.)
*La sauce est accompagnée de légumes frais. (The sauce is accompanied by fresh vegetables.)
*Les enfants sont toujours accompagnés d'un adulte. (Children are always accompanied by an adult.)

The 'with' for 'equipped with' or 'carrying' – muni(e) de

The 'with' for 'equipped with' or 'carrying' – muni(e) de

Muni(e) de is a versatile French expression that translates to "equipped with," "provided with," or "carrying." It implies having something necessary, often an item or document, for a specific purpose.

As a past participle, muni must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it describes. You'll see it as muni (masculine singular), munie (feminine singular), munis (masculine plural), or munies (feminine plural).

This phrase is frequently used in formal or administrative contexts, such as when referring to someone carrying identification, tools, or specific equipment. It suggests a state of being prepared or furnished with something important.

While avec simply means "with," muni(e) de carries a more specific nuance of being equipped or furnished with something. It's a more formal and precise way to express possession or readiness.

Use muni(e) de when you want to emphasize that someone or something is properly supplied or prepared with an item, especially in situations that require a certain credential or piece of equipment.

💡 * Il est muni de son passeport pour voyager. (He is equipped with his passport for travel.)

• Elle est munie d'une autorisation pour entrer. (She is carrying an authorization to enter.)
• Les agents étaient munis de leurs radios. (The officers were equipped with their radios.)
• La table est munie de roulettes. (The table is fitted with wheels.)

The 'with' for 'using a tool or method' – à l'aide de

When you want to express 'with' in the sense of 'by means of' or 'using a tool or method' in French, the phrase à l'aide de is often the most appropriate choice. It directly translates to 'with the aid of' or 'by means of'.

Unlike the general 'avec' which simply means 'with' (e.g., 'with a friend'), à l'aide de specifically implies the use of an instrument, a technique, or assistance to achieve something. It highlights the means by which an action is performed.

The structure is straightforward: à l'aide de followed by a noun, which represents the tool, method, or aid being utilized. For example, à l'aide d'un marteau (with the aid of a hammer) or à l'aide de ciseaux (using scissors).

While avec can sometimes be used in a similar context (e.g., couper avec des ciseaux), à l'aide de often carries a more formal or precise tone, emphasizing the instrumental nature of the object. It's particularly useful when the tool is essential to the action.

Therefore, when your intention is to convey that an action is performed by means of or using something specific, remember à l'aide de to clearly articulate the instrumental relationship.

💡 *Il a réparé la chaise à l'aide d'un tournevis. (He repaired the chair using a screwdriver.)
*Nous avons ouvert la boîte à l'aide d'un couteau. (We opened the box with the aid of a knife.)
*Elle a appris le français à l'aide de cette application. (She learned French using this app.)
*Le médecin a examiné le patient à l'aide d'un stéthoscope. (The doctor examined the patient with a stethoscope.)
*J'ai réussi à monter le meuble à l'aide des instructions. (I managed to assemble the furniture with the help of the instructions.)

The 'with' implying a positive cause, 'thanks to' – grâce à

When you want to express a positive cause or a beneficial reason for something in French, the phrase you'll use is grâce à. It directly translates to 'thanks to' or 'owing to', always implying a favorable outcome.

Unlike à cause de (due to, because of) which can imply a negative or neutral cause, grâce à exclusively points to a positive one. It highlights the person, thing, or event that made a good situation possible, emphasizing gratitude or good fortune.

Grammatically, grâce à functions as a prepositional phrase and is always followed by a noun or a stressed pronoun (e.g., lui, elle, eux, elles). Remember the contractions à le becomes au and à les becomes aux.

💡 * Grâce à ton aide, j'ai fini à temps. (Thanks to your help, I finished on time.)

• Elle a réussi grâce à son travail acharné. (She succeeded thanks to her hard work.)
• Nous avons gagné le match grâce à l'effort de l'équipe. (We won the match thanks to the team's effort.)
• Grâce au soleil, les fleurs éclosent. (Thanks to the sun, the flowers are blooming.)
• Il a pu voyager grâce à ses économies. (He was able to travel thanks to his savings.)

The 'with' meaning 'including' or 'along with' – y compris

In French, when you want to express the idea of 'including' or 'along with,' the most common and versatile phrase is y compris. It literally translates to 'there included' but functions as a single unit meaning 'including' or 'inclusive of.'

Y compris is an invariable expression, meaning it doesn't change form (no gender or number agreement). It typically follows the noun or pronoun it refers to, adding an item or a group to a previously mentioned set.

This phrase is crucial for clearly defining the scope of something, making sure the listener or reader understands that a particular item or group is part of the whole.

💡 * Tout le monde est venu, y compris les enfants. (Everyone came, including the children.)

• Le prix comprend toutes les taxes, y compris la TVA. (The price includes all taxes, including VAT.)
• Elle a lu tous les livres de la série, y compris le dernier. (She read all the books in the series, including the last one.)
• Nous avons invité dix personnes, y compris mon cousin. (We invited ten people, including my cousin.)

The 'with' meaning 'in agreement or collaboration with' – de concert avec

The phrase de concert avec is a sophisticated way to express 'with' when referring to actions taken 'in agreement with,' 'in collaboration with,' or 'in harmony with' another entity or person.

Unlike the general avec (with), de concert avec carries a stronger implication of mutual understanding, coordination, and shared purpose. It suggests that parties are working together towards a common goal, often after deliberation or formal agreement.

This expression is typically found in more formal, administrative, or literary contexts. You'll encounter it when discussing official decisions, collective efforts, or artistic collaborations, rather than everyday casual interactions.

Literally meaning 'in concert with,' it evokes the image of musicians playing together in harmony. This emphasizes the synchronized and coordinated nature of the actions being described, highlighting a deliberate and unified effort.

💡 * Le gouvernement a agi de concert avec les syndicats pour réformer la loi. (The government acted in concert with the unions to reform the law.)

• Les deux entreprises ont développé le projet de concert avec leurs équipes de recherche. (The two companies developed the project in collaboration with their research teams.)
• L'architecte a travaillé de concert avec l'ingénieur pour assurer la stabilité du bâtiment. (The architect worked in agreement with the engineer to ensure the building's stability.)
• Ils ont pris cette décision de concert avec tous les membres du conseil. (They made this decision in agreement with all the board members.)

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

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

While avec is the most common and direct translation for 'with' in French, the language offers a rich array of expressions and grammatical constructions that convey companionship, instrumentality, or connection without always using this single word. French nuances often require more than a one-to-one translation.

You'll find that context is key. For example, expressing 'with me' might involve avec moi, but 'come with me' could be viens avec moi or even accompagne-moi. Similarly, concepts like 'with difficulty' or 'with pleasure' often use different prepositions or idiomatic phrases, such as avec difficulté or avec plaisir, but sometimes alternative structures exist that imply 'with' without explicitly stating it.

As you expand your French vocabulary, pay close attention to how native speakers express these ideas. Many phrases that imply 'with' are idiomatic, meaning their sense isn't derived from the individual words. Always verify a word's definition and observe its usage in real-world sentences to grasp its precise meaning and appropriate context.

The best way to discover these alternative expressions is through immersion. Read French books, watch French films, and listen to French music and podcasts. You'll naturally encounter various ways to describe actions done 'with' someone or something, enriching your understanding beyond simple dictionary definitions.

For a comprehensive exploration of 'with' and its many equivalents, consult a reliable French dictionary or online resource like WordReference.com. Search for avec, but also look up English phrases containing 'with' to see the diverse French constructions used to convey that sense.

I hope this article has shed some light on the diverse ways to express 'with' in French. Embracing these variations will significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension. Remember this insightful proverb: "Seul on va plus vite, ensemble on va plus loin." (Alone we go faster, together we go further.) This beautifully encapsulates the spirit of collaboration and connection that 'with' often implies.