Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| mettre | /mɛtʁ/ |
| placer | /pla.se/ |
| poser | /po.ze/ |
Mettre is the standard and most versatile way to say 'to put'. It is used for general placement and is also the specific verb used to express the act of putting on clothes or accessories. When you are putting an object inside another object, you should use the preposition dans alongside your chosen verb.
Which one should you use?
While mettre is the general-purpose term, other verbs offer more specific nuances. Use placer if you mean to position or arrange something with care. Use poser specifically when the action involves setting something down on a surface.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of mettre is mis. Common conjugations include je mets (I put), il/elle met (he/she puts) and vous mettez (you put, used for formal or plural contexts).
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛtʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, mettre is used to describe the act of spending time or effort on a task, such as mettre du temps, which means 'to take time'.
- While poser usually means 'to put down', it is also the standard verb used for 'to land' a plane or a bird.
- The French verb mettre is a distant relative of the English word 'emit'. Both originate from the Latin root mittere, which means 'to send' or 'to put'.
Examples in context
- Où le mettrez-vous ?Where are you going to put it?This sentence is useful for asking where one will put something using mettre.Tatoeba #1995750 by Rovo, translation #1886641 by CK
- Va mettre ton pyjama.Go put your pajamas on.This sentence shows how to use mettre to mean putting on clothes.Tatoeba #8407969 by Aiji, translation #8030137 by CK
- Puis-je le mettre là ?May I put it here?This sentence is useful for asking permission to put something using mettre.Tatoeba #1314419 by sacredceltic, translation #1075501 by CK
- Mettez le livre sur la table.Put the book on the table.
- S'il vous plaît, mettez les dossiers dans le tiroir.Please put the files in the drawer.
- Pose le sac sur la chaise.Put the bag on the chair.
- Peux-tu poser les clés sur la table, s'il te plaît?Can you put the keys on the table, please?
- Pouvez-vous placer le verre sur la table, s'il vous plaît?Can you put the glass on the table, please?
- Mets le stylo dans le tiroir.Put the pen in the drawer.
- Mets ton manteau.Put on your coat.
- Mets les livres sur l'étagère.Put the books on the shelf.
- 283 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are tidying up the living room.
- HugoOù est-ce que je peux mettre ce coussin ?Where can I put this cushion?
- ManonTu peux le mettre sur le fauteuil.You can put it on the armchair.
- HugoD'accord, je vais mettre ça là.Okay, I will put that there.
- ManonMerci, Hugo.Thank you, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “put” translations and entries mettre, placer, poser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mettre, placer, poser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
