pouvoir
/pu.vwaʁ/
The English word 'might' is expressed in French using the verb pouvoir.
The verb pouvoir is used to express possibility ('it might happen') and permission ('may I?'). It also translates to 'to be able to'. When referring to personal power, the noun pouvoir or puissance is used, while force is used for physical strength.
Meaning: indicator of conditional or possible actions (verb)
Which one should you use?
In the indicative mood, pouvoir primarily expresses the ability to do something, similar to the English 'can'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in France, the phrase Y'a peut-être moyen is used to mean 'there might be a way'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/pu.vwaʁ/
Did you know?
- The French phrase Je ne peux plus is frequently used as an idiom to mean 'I can't take it anymore' regarding emotional stress.
- The first-person present form je puis is an archaic version of je peux that still appears in formal or literary French.
- The English word 'power' and the French verb pouvoir share the same Latin ancestor, potēre, meaning 'to be able to'.
Examples in context
- Tu pourrais être le seul ici à pouvoir faire ça.You might be the only one here who can do that.Tatoeba #6058930 by Tsar_Lyagushka, translation #5903823 by CK
- Il travaillait jour et nuit pour pouvoir devenir riche.He worked day and night so that he might become rich.Tatoeba #131881 by Aiji, translation #295521 by AlanF_US
- Bill s'est levé tôt pour pouvoir prendre le premier train.Bill got up early in order that he might catch the first train.Tatoeba #8954290 by Aiji, translation #34526 by AlanF_US
- Y'a peut-être moyen de le faire avant demain.There might be a way to do it before tomorrow.
- Peut-être qu'il viendra demain.He might come tomorrow.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pouvoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pouvoir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
