Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mater | /ma.te/ | colloquial |
| regarder | /ʁə.ɡaʁ.de/ /ʁɡaʁ.de/ |
|
| examiner | /ɛɡ.za.mi.ne/ |
You might use these terms to express examining, inspecting or looking at something closely.
Which one should you use?
regarder is the standard, neutral way to say 'to look at' or 'to watch'. In contrast, mater is used when you want to say 'check out' or 'eye up' in a slangy or casual way, often implying looking at someone or something with interest. Finally, examiner is used when 'check out' means to inspect something thoroughly or scientifically, rather than just glancing at it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
examiner is a formal way to say check out. mater is a colloquial term used in casual settings. Another informal way to express this is to use the phrase Jeter un coup d'œil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of the colloquial verb mater is maté.
How do you pronounce it?
mater is pronounced /ma.te/.
Did you know?
- The colloquial verb mater has an unexpected origin, possibly coming from the Spanish word mata, meaning 'bush', referring to someone spying from a hiding place.
- The phrase jeter un coup d'œil literally translates to 'throwing a blow of the eye'.
- In French, the concept of 'checking out' a person using mater can carry a predatory or objectifying connotation that goes beyond simple curiosity.
Examples in context
- Vérifiez cette informationCheck out this information
- Examinez bien ce rapportCheck out this report thoroughly
- Regarde cette photoCheck out this photo
- Regardez le nouveau téléphoneCheck out the new phone
- Jette un coup d'œil à cette vidéoCheck out this video
- Jetez un coup d'œil à ces magnifiques paysagesCheck out these amazing landscapes
- Tu devrais mater ce nouveau modèle.You should check out this new model.
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are looking at a street artist's work.
- HugoMate ce dessin, c'est incroyable !Check out this drawing, it's incredible!
- EmmaC'est vrai, les couleurs sont superbes.It's true, the colors are superb.
- HugoOn devrait mater ses autres œuvres.We should check out his other works.
- EmmaJe suis d'accord, allons-y.I agree, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “check out” translations and entries mater, regarder, examiner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries examiner, mater, regarder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
