regarder
/ʁə.ɡaʁ.de/
The English phrase "looking" is translated into French as regarder.
regarder means directing one's gaze toward someone or something to see them. If you want to specify that you are observing or studying something closely, you should use observer. To express the idea of examining or scrutinizing something carefully, use examiner. In slang, the verb mater is used to express the concept of checking out or eyeing something or someone.
Which one should you use?
Use regarder when you are actively directing your gaze toward something, whereas voir is used for the passive act of seeing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive form se regarder means to look at oneself. To express the action of looking while another action is occurring, you can use the present participle regardant.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /ʁə.ɡaʁ.de/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid adding a preposition like à after regarder. English speakers often mistakenly say something like regarder à, but regarder is a direct transitive verb and takes an object directly.
Did you know?
- The word regard can be used as a noun to mean 'esteem' or 'respect' for someone, which is a meaning entirely separate from the act of looking.
- To say 'look out' as a warning, French speakers do not use regarder but instead use the verb faire attention, meaning 'to pay attention'.
- The verb regarder is built from the prefix re- and the verb garder, which means 'to keep' or 'to guard'.
Examples in context
- Je t'ai vu regarder.I saw you looking.This sentence is useful for showing the use of regarder after seeing someone perform the action.Tatoeba #7919530 by hennebert, translation #2406192 by CK
- Continue à regarder !Keep looking.This sentence demonstrates how to use regarder as a continuous command.Tatoeba #3440248 by sacredceltic, translation #2111645 by CK
- Je l'ai vu me regarder.I saw him looking at me.This sentence shows regarder used with an object in a sentence about being watched.Tatoeba #701133 by qdii, translation #283746 by CK
- Je regarde par la fenêtreI'm looking out the window.
- Le scientifique observe les étoilesThe scientist is observing the stars.
- Je regarde un film à la télévisionI'm watching a movie on TV.
- Je regarde bien les détails de cette peintureI'm looking at the details of this painting (carefully).
- Il regarde devant lui avant de traverser la rueHe looks in front of him before crossing the street.
- Elle se regarde dans le miroir pour se maquillerShe looks at herself in the mirror to put on makeup.
- 101 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are at an art gallery.
- NathanQu'est-ce que tu aimes regarder ici ?What do you like looking at here?
- EmmaJ'adore regarder les peintures modernes.I love looking at the modern paintings.
- NathanRegarde ce tableau bleu là-bas.Look at that blue painting over there.
- EmmaC'est magnifique, merci Nathan.It is magnificent, thank you Nathan.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry regarder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries regarder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
