pourboire
/puʁ.bwaʁ/masculine
The English word 'gratuity' is translated into French as pourboire.
The term pourboire is used to refer to a reward provided freely without obligation. If you want to express the action of giving a tip, use the phrase laisser un pourboire (to leave a tip). An informal way to refer to a tip given in appreciation is petit extra.
Meaning: reward provided freely, without obligation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word pourboire is a compound of pour (for) and boire (to drink), which literally means 'for a drink'.
Which one should you use?
In France, you may encounter the term service compris, which means the service charge is already included in the price. This differs from a pourboire, which is an extra, optional amount given on top of the price.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term pourboire is widely used in France.
How does it change in a sentence?
pourboire is a masculine noun. The plural form is pourboires.
How do you pronounce it?
/puʁ.bwaʁ/
Did you know?
- In France, the law mandates that service must be included in the price, meaning the pourboire is legally a bonus and not a primary source of income for staff.
- In some traditional French cafes, leaving a few small coins on the table as a pourboire is considered more discreet and elegant than handing money directly to the server.
- The word pourboire shares a common conceptual ancestor with the German term Trinkgeld, which also translates to 'drinking money'.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais laisser un pourboire au serveur pour le bon service reçu.I would like to leave a tip for the server for the excellent service received.
- Tiens, voici un petit extra pour toi, merci pour ton aide.Here, a little something extra for you, thanks for your help.
- Je vais lui donner un pourboire pour son excellent travail.I am going to give him a tip for his excellent work.
- Je laisse un pourboire au serveur.I am leaving a tip for the waiter.
- Le pourboire est inclus dans le prix ?Is the tip included in the price?
- Elle a reçu un petit pourboire.She received a small tip.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are at a café after lunch.
- HugoEst-ce que je laisse un pourboire ?Should I leave a tip?
- LéaOui, c'est gentil de ta part.Yes, that is kind of you.
- HugoCombien de pourboire dois-je donner ?How much tip should I give?
- LéaUn ou deux euros suffisent.One or two euros is enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gratuity” translations and entries pourboire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pourboire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
