lâcher
/la.ʃe/
The English phrase 'let go' is translated into French as lâcher.
The verb lâcher is used to express the action of no longer holding on to something. In specific contexts, other forms are used: lâcher prise refers to the psychological act of letting go of control or stress, often used in therapeutic settings. For physical objects or freeing oneself from constraints, the formal term relâcher can be used to mean 'to release' or 'to set free'.
Meaning: to no longer hold on (verb)
Which one should you use?
While lâcher refers to the physical act of releasing a grip, lâcher prise is used for the psychological act of letting go of control or stress. If you mean to 'let drop' in the sense of giving up, abandoning or stopping support for something, you should use the informal phrase laisser tomber. For the colloquial context of breaking up or ending a romantic relationship, use larguer.
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase lâcher la grappe is a popular idiom that literally means 'to let go of the grape', but it actually means 'to leave someone alone' or 'to get off someone's back'.
- The informal term for breaking up with someone, larguer, literally means 'to dump' or 'to jettison' cargo from an aircraft.
- The expression lâcher le morceau literally means 'to let go of the piece' but is used idiomatically to mean 'to give up a secret' or 'to confess'.
Examples in context
- Veuillez lâcher mon bras.Please let go of my arm.This sentence shows how to use lâcher to request someone to release your arm.Tatoeba #1330146 by sacredceltic, translation #776013 by CK
- Vous pouvez lâcher prise maintenant.You can let go now.This sentence illustrates the use of lâcher in the context of letting go of control.Tatoeba #8413563 by lbdx, translation #3330986 by CK
- Le chien ne voulait pas lâcher la balle.The dog wouldn't let go of the ball.This sentence demonstrates how lâcher describes a dog refusing to release a ball.Tatoeba #12449341 by lbdx, translation #48268 by CK
- Il est important de lâcher prise pour vivre une vie équilibrée.It is important to let go in order to live a balanced life.
- Elle a décidé de se détacher de son passé douloureux.She decided to let go of her painful past.
- Veuillez relâcher le bouton lorsque vous avez terminé.Please release the button when you are done.
- J'ai décidé de laisser tomber ce projet.I decided to let go of this project.
- Lâche ce livre et viens jouer avec nous!Let go of that book and come play with us!
- Il vaut mieux juste laisser filer et voir comment ça se passe.It's better to just let go and see how it goes.
- Je me suis débarrassé de tous mes vieux vêtements.I let go of all my old clothes.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are holding a heavy box together.
- HugoJe peux lâcher le carton maintenant ?Can I let go of the box now?
- ChloéAttends, je ne le tiens pas encore.Wait, I'm not holding it yet.
- HugoD'accord, dis-moi quand je peux lâcher.Okay, tell me when I can let go.
- ChloéC'est bon, tu peux lâcher !It's okay, you can let go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “let go” translations and entries lâcher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
