payer
/pɛ.je/
The English verb 'pay' translates to the French verb payer.
Payer means to give money in exchange for goods or services. When describing the method of payment, use the preposition 'par' for cards, as in payer par carte (to pay by card). To express paying with physical currency, you can use the phrase payer en espèces or the more informal payer en liquide (to pay in cash).
Meaning: to give money in exchange for goods or services (verb)
Which one should you use?
While payer is the standard verb, the noun règlement refers to the act of payment or the payment itself. If you are referring to money received in return for work, use the nouns paye or paie. Additionally, the adjectives payant and payante describe something that is operable or accessible upon the deposit of coins.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of payer is payé. The imperfect tense form, used for 'was paying' or 'used to pay', is payait.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɛ.je/
Did you know?
- In French, if someone is payé en nature, it means they are being paid with goods or services instead of money. However, in modern slang, this phrase often implies a sexual favor in exchange for a service.
- The verb payer actually has roots in the concept of 'pacifying' or making peace. It is derived from the Latin 'pacāre', meaning to pacify, suggesting that a payment settles a debt and restores peace between parties.
- While la paie is used for a standard paycheck, a high-ranking official's salary is often called a traitement, which literally means 'treatment'.
Examples in context
- Qui va payer ?Who will pay?This example is useful for asking who will be responsible for the payment using payer.Tatoeba #1078224 by sacredceltic, translation #1357342 by sacredceltic
- Je dois payer ça.I must pay for that.This example demonstrates how to express the necessity of making a payment using payer.Tatoeba #12803205 by Rovo, translation #9936205 by maaster
- Dois-je te payer ?Do I have to pay you?This example shows how to ask if one is required to pay someone using payer.Tatoeba #2036200 by sacredceltic, translation #1886119 by CK
- Je vais payer la facture.I'm going to pay the bill.
- Veuillez régler votre dette avant la fin du mois.Please pay your debt before the end of the month.
- J'ai préféré payer en liquide pour éviter les frais supplémentaires.I preferred to pay in cash to avoid additional fees.
- C'est moi qui vais régler l'addition ce soir.I'll pay the bill tonight.
- Pouvez-vous payer cette facture, s'il vous plaît?Can you pay this bill, please?
- Elle a payé ses dettes.She paid her debts.
- Ils devront régler les factures.They will have to pay the bills.
- Payer par carte de créditPay with a credit card
- Payer en lignePay online
- Payer le loyerPay the rent
- Payer le prixPay the price
- Payer d'avancePay upfront
- 373 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are at a restaurant.
- ManonEst-ce que je peux payer par carte ?Can I pay by card?
- HugoOui, Manon, c'est possible.Yes, Manon, that is possible.
- ManonJe vais payer pour nous deux.I will pay for both of us.
- HugoC'est très gentil, merci Hugo.That is very kind, thank you Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pay” translations and entries payer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries payer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
