envoyer
/ɑ̃.vwa.je/
In French, the English phrase "send off" (specifically in the context of sports like soccer) is translated as envoyer.
In a sports context, specifically when referring to giving a player a red card, the verb expulser is used to mean sending off or ejecting a player. While envoyer means "to send", the specific verb used for sending a player off in a sports context is expulser. To refer to the red card itself, use the term un carton rouge.
Meaning: sports, soccer: to give someone a red card (verb)
Which one should you use?
While envoyer is the default form meaning "to send", expulser is the correct verb to use when you mean to eject a player from a game.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /ɑ̃.vwa.je/.
Did you know?
- While expulser is the formal term, fans often use the slang verb virer to describe a player being sent off, which literally means 'to fire' or 'to kick out'.
- The word envoyer is actually a linguistic traveler that comes from the Latin 'via', meaning 'road' or 'way'.
- The future and conditional tenses of envoyer are irregular because they were historically influenced by the conjugation of voir, meaning 'to see'.
Examples in context
- Nous sommes tristes de te voir partir, mais nous te souhaitons une "bonne continuation" dans ta nouvelle entreprise.We are sad to see you go, but we wish you "good luck" in your new job.
- L'arbitre a expulsé le joueur avec un carton rouge.The referee sent off the player with a red card.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are watching a soccer match together.
- EmmaRegarde ! Le joueur a reçu un carton rouge.Look! The player got a red card.
- GabrielL'arbitre vient de l'envoyer, c'est inadmissible !The referee just sent him off, it's unacceptable!
- EmmaJe suis d'accord, c'était une faute légère.I agree, it was a light foul.
- GabrielMaintenant, ils vont jouer à dix.Now, they are going to play with ten.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry envoyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries envoyer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
