agir
/a.ʒiʁ/
To act in French is agir.
The verb agir is used when you mean to take action, to behave or to carry out an activity. While the English word 'act' can refer to performing a role in a play, agir is reserved for the sense of taking action or behaving in a specific way.
Meaning: to perform a theatrical role (verb)
Which one should you use?
agir specifically describes taking action or behaving, which distinguishes it from the theatrical sense of acting. For the noun form of 'act' in legal or official contexts, the word acte is used.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /a.ʒiʁ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use agir when they mean performing in a movie or a play. In those theatrical contexts, you should use jouer instead.
Did you know?
- The verb jouer, used for acting in a play, literally means 'to play'. This means a French speaker uses the same word for a child playing with toys and a professional actor performing on stage.
- The word agir is derived from the Latin verb agere, which means 'to drive' or 'to lead'.
- French distinguishes between agir for taking action and se comporter for behaving. Using agir implies a decisive movement, whereas se comporter focuses on the manner of one's conduct.
Examples in context
- Il nous faut agir.We must act.This sentence uses agir to express the necessity of taking action.Tatoeba #4777516 by sacredceltic, translation #2241164 by CK
- Pense avant d'agir !Think before you act!This sentence uses agir to advise someone to think before they take action.Tatoeba #559555 by sacredceltic, translation #597602 by FeuDRenais2
- Tom était prêt à agir.Tom was ready to act.This sentence uses agir to describe someone's readiness to take action.Tatoeba #14007212 by zogwarg, translation #12120876 by CK
- Son acte de bienveillance a touché de nombreux cœurs.His act of kindness touched many hearts.
- Il fait semblant d'être surpris alors qu'il était au courant.He acts surprised even though he knew about it.
- Elle fait la dure, mais au fond, elle est sensible.She acts tough, but deep down, she's sensitive.
- Pourquoi as-tu agi ainsi?Why did you act that way?
- Il se comporte toujours comme s'il savait tout.He always acts like a know-it-all.
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing an acting class.
- HugoEst-ce que tu aimes agir sur scène ?Do you like acting on stage?
- ManonOui, j'adore agir devant un public.Yes, I love acting in front of an audience.
- HugoOn devrait apprendre à agir ensemble.We should learn to act together.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Hugo !That is an excellent idea, Hugo!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry agir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
