Which one should you use?
While envoyer is the general term, you may encounter other verbs with more specific nuances. Expédier is used for shipping or mailing physical items and can be used to convey the idea of sending something in a formal setting. Transmettre implies the notion of transmitting or relaying something and is used in professional contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on the subject and tense. The first and third person singular present indicative forms are envoie (I send / he sends), and the first person plural present indicative form is envoyons (we send). The past participle is envoyé (sent).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.vwa.je/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the infinitive envoyer where a conjugated form is required. For example, do not say 'Je envoyer' instead of 'J'envoie'.
Did you know?
- In casual French slang, envoyer is used in the phrase envoyer du bois to mean performing with great energy or power, literally 'sending some wood'.
- The word envoyer is a distant relative of the English word 'way' because both originate from the Latin word via, meaning 'road' or 'path'.
- The verb envoyer is a linguistic chameleon because its future tense conjugation changes its stem to look like the verb 'to see', voir. For example, instead of a standard stem, you will see j'enverrai.
Examples in context
- Peux-tu me l'envoyer ?Can you send it to me?This sentence is useful for asking someone to send something to you using envoyer.Tatoeba #11943271 by zogwarg, translation #11943269 by CK
- Je dois envoyer un fax.I need to send a fax.This sentence is useful for expressing a necessity to send a fax using envoyer.Tatoeba #11146191 by Aiji, translation #2631685 by Joseph
- À qui vas-tu envoyer ça ?Who are you going to send that to?This sentence is useful for asking whom someone is going to send something to using envoyer.Tatoeba #6285862 by Aiji, translation #4356234 by corbinjurgens
- Veuillez envoyer le rapport à mon adresse email.Please send the report to my email address.
- Je vous prie de transmettre ces documents au département des ressources humaines.I kindly request you to send these documents to the Human Resources department.
- Nous vous prions d'expédier ces marchandises dès que possible.We kindly ask you to send these goods as soon as possible.
- Tu peux m'envoyer le lien par message ?Can you send me the link through a message?
- Fais-moi un mail et file-moi les photos.Send me an email and pass me the photos.
- Balance-moi les fichiers par Messenger.Send me the files on Messenger.
- 170 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are at home planning a gift for a friend.
- LéaOn doit envoyer ce cadeau aujourd'hui.We must send this gift today.
- HugoD'accord, je vais l'envoyer tout de suite.Okay, I will send it right away.
- LéaEst-ce que tu peux l'envoyer par la poste ?Can you send it by mail?
- HugoOui, je m'en occupe.Yes, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “send” translations and entries envoyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries envoyer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
