Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| poser | /po.ze/ |
| coucher | /ku.ʃe/ |
| mettre | /mɛtʁ/ |
poser puts the focus on the act of setting an object down on a surface, often with some care or in a specific position. For laying the table, French says mettre la table.
Which one should you use?
poser is about setting an object down on a surface. mettre is the general, versatile verb for to put, used in many everyday contexts such as laying the table or putting clothes on. coucher is for laying something down flat, such as a person in a bed or an object in a lying position. For laying out or spreading something flat, such as cloth, formal French uses Étendre.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
poser is pronounced /po.ze/, in two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use poser for every sense of lay. For general placement or setting things in place, mettre is often more natural, as in mettre la table for laying the table.
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase poser un lapin literally means to 'lay a rabbit', but it actually means to stand someone up on a date.
- While poser means to lay something down, it is also the standard verb used when asking a question, poser une question.
- The word coucher is also used in the phrase coucher sur le papier, which means to commit a thought or a plan to paper.
Examples in context
- À qui le tour de mettre la table ?Whose turn is it to lay the table?mettre la table is the set way to say lay the table.Tatoeba #10974023 by lbdx, translation #10791701 by sundown
- Je vais mettre cet argent de côté en cas de besoin.I'm going to lay aside that money for emergencies.Here mettre with de côté means to lay money aside.Tatoeba #986334 by sacredceltic, translation #50596 by CS
- Le suspect a dû poser toutes ses affaires sur la table.The suspect had to lay all his things on the table.poser is used for laying things down on a table.Tatoeba #8954234 by Aiji, translation #2388889 by AlanF_US
- Veuillez poser le livre sur la table.Please lay the book on the table.
- Elle a étendu la nappe sur la table.She laid the tablecloth on the table.
- Étendez les vêtements à plat sur le lit.Lay the clothes flat on the bed.
- Mets simplement le sac là-bas.Just lay the bag over there.
- J'ai mis les clés sur le comptoir de la cuisine.I laid the keys on the kitchen counter.
- Dépose le cadeau sur la table.Lay the gift on the table.
- Elle a déposé son sac sur la chaise.She laid her bag on the chair.
- Disposez les documents proprement sur le bureau.Lay the documents neatly on the desk.
- Il a posé les bases de son succès.He laid the foundation for his success.
- Elle est en train de coucher le bébé pour la sieste.She's putting the baby down for a nap.
- Tu peux poser les assiettes sur la table, s'il te plaît ?Can you lay the plates on the table, please?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are tidying up the living room.
- LucasTu peux poser ce vase sur la table ?Can you lay this vase on the table?
- LéaOui, je le pose tout de suite.Yes, I am laying it down right now.
- LucasMerci, fais attention car il est fragile.Thanks, be careful because it is fragile.
- LéaNe t'inquiète pas, je suis prudente.Don't worry, I am being careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lay” translations and entries poser, coucher, mettre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
