accueillir
/a.kœ.jiʁ/
To welcome or to receive is accueillir in French.
The verb accueillir means to welcome or to receive someone into a place or a group.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, people often use the phrase bienvenu/e as the main way to say welcome in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present indicative form is accueille (he/she welcomes). The past participle is accueilli (welcomed). The present participle is accueillant, which can also function as an adjective meaning 'welcoming'.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.kœ.jiʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mispronounce the 'ui' sequence as 'oo' or 'u-ee', but it should be a single semi-vowel sound /ɥ/ followed by /i/.
Did you know?
- The verb accueillir is a 'cousin' to the English word 'collect', as both trace back to the Latin root 'colligere' meaning 'to gather together'.
- While accueillir means to welcome, the noun form accueil is the standard term for a hotel 'lobby' or a corporate 'reception desk'.
- In French, you cannot use the verb accueillir as a standalone greeting like the English 'welcome'. Instead, you must use bienvenue for the greeting and accueillir for the action of receiving someone.
Examples in context
- L'équipe de l'hôtel vous souhaite la bienvenue dans notre établissement.The hotel team welcomes you to our establishment.
- Bienvenue chez moi ! Fais comme chez toi.Welcome to my place! Make yourself at home.
- Nous vous accueillons avec plaisir à notre conférence internationale.We welcome you with pleasure to our international conference.
- Nous allons accueillir les nouveaux étudiants demain.We are going to welcome the new students tomorrow.
- Elle sait très bien accueillir ses invités.She knows how to welcome her guests very well.
- Le directeur veut accueillir les employés dans la salle.The director wants to welcome the employees in the room.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are preparing for a party at their house.
- HugoComment allons-nous accueillir les voisins ce soir ?How are we going to welcome the neighbors tonight?
- LéaJe vais accueillir tout le monde à l'entrée.I will welcome everyone at the entrance.
- HugoTu es très accueillante avec tout le monde.You are very welcoming with everyone.
- LéaMerci, c'est normal de bien accueillir nos amis.Thanks, it's normal to welcome our friends well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry accueillir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries accueillir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
