verser
/vɛʁ.se/
To pour in French is verser.
The verb verser is used to describe causing a liquid to flow in a stream. While it is primarily used for pouring, it can also refer to the act of shedding or spilling substances such as blood or tears.
Meaning: to cause to flow in a stream (verb)
Which one should you use?
While verser is used to pour a liquid, it can also express the act of spilling. In contrast, renverser is the specific term used when you mean to knock something over or to overturn it. Additionally, for discharging or pouring out large quantities of liquid, you should use déverser.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of verser is versé. If you are using the second person plural present indicative or the imperative, the form is versez. For the imperfect tense describing a continuous action in the first or second person singular, use versais.
How do you pronounce it?
/vɛʁ.se/
Did you know?
- In a financial context, you might hear the term verser une somme, which means to 'pay out' or 'deposit' a sum of money rather than pouring a liquid.
- In a legal context, verser is used when 'pouring' or submitting evidence or documents into a court record.
- The Latin root versāre means 'to turn' or 'to twist', which explains why the word evolved from the idea of turning a vessel to pour its contents.
Examples in context
- Tu peux verser le vin dans le verre.You can pour the wine into the glass.This sentence shows how to use verser when pouring wine into a glass.Tatoeba #3245279 by sacredceltic, translation #2270605 by _undertoad
- Pouvez-vous verser du café dans ma tasse ?Could you pour some coffee in my cup?This sentence demonstrates using verser to ask for coffee to be poured into a cup.Tatoeba #10493158 by pkill, translation #10855123 by Taikian
- Vous pouvez verser le liquide en utilisant un entonnoir.You can pour the liquid by using a funnel.This sentence illustrates using verser to describe pouring liquid through a funnel.Tatoeba #10138622 by lbdx, translation #4106939 by Lepotdeterre
- Je vais verser du vin dans le verreI am going to pour wine into the glass
- Il a déversé le contenu de la bouteille dans le récipientHe poured the contents of the bottle into the container
- Fais couler un peu d'eau dans le bolPour a little water into the bowl
- Je verse de l'eau dans le verreI pour water into the glass
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is helping Léa in the kitchen.
- GabrielJe vais verser l'huile dans la poêle.I am going to pour the oil into the pan.
- LéaFais attention de ne pas en verser trop.Be careful not to pour too much.
- GabrielEst-ce que je dois verser le lait aussi ?Should I pour the milk too?
- LéaNon, ne verse pas de lait maintenant.No, don't pour any milk now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pour” translations and entries verser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries verser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
