Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| rester | /ʁɛs.te/ |
| demeurer | /də.mœ.ʁe/ /də.mø.ʁe/ |
The primary way to express staying or remaining in a particular place or a certain state is to use rester.
Which one should you use?
rester is the standard, everyday verb for staying in a place. demeurer is a more formal or literary alternative often used in written contexts or to describe a permanent state. séjourner is a formal option used for a temporary stay or visit, such as a holiday.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
rester is the common, everyday choice. demeurer is more formal or literary. séjourner is also formal and is often used in official or professional contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using rester to mean remaining in a place in compound tenses, use the auxiliary verb être instead of avoir (for example, est resté).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɛs.te/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using séjourner for a simple act of staying. This verb implies a temporary stay or a visit, such as a holiday.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of rester is 'restare', which literally translates to 'to stand behind' or 'to remain standing'.
- The verb rester is used in the common expression il reste…, which means 'there is … left', such as when describing remaining food.
- In the phrase rester planter là, the verb rester is used to describe someone standing frozen or awkward in a spot.
Examples in context
- Tu dois y rester.You need to stay there.This sentence shows how to use rester to express a necessity to stay in a location.Tatoeba #7790909 by Aiji, translation #3184982 by CK
- Tom va rester ici.Tom is going to stay here.This sentence uses rester to indicate an intention to stay in a specific place.Tatoeba #5655277 by Yemana, translation #3185055 by CK
- Je vais rester ici.I'm going to stay here.This sentence demonstrates using rester to express a personal intention to stay in a location.Tatoeba #11571714 by Aiji, translation #2546600 by CK
- Je dois rester ici jusqu'à lundi.I have to stay here until Monday.
- Ils vont rester à Paris pour trois semaines.They are going to stay in Paris for three weeks.
- Nous allons séjourner dans un hôtel luxueux.We are going to stay in a luxurious hotel.
- Il séjourne en France depuis un mois.He has been staying in France for a month.
- Je vais rester chez mes amis ce week-end.I am going to stay at my friends' place this weekend.
- Est-ce que je peux rester chez toi ce soir ?Can I stay at your place tonight?
- Nous allons passer la nuit chez mes grands-parents.We are going to stay the night at my grandparents' house.
- Ne t'inquiète pas, tu peux passer la nuit ici !Don't worry, you can stay the night here!
- 1089 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are deciding where to spend the evening.
- EmmaOn peut rester à la maison ce soir ?Can we stay at home tonight?
- LucasOui, je préfère rester ici avec toi.Yes, I prefer to stay here with you.
- EmmaC'est parfait, je vais préparer le dîner.That's perfect, I'll prepare dinner.
- LucasMerci Emma, on va bien se reposer.Thanks Emma, we'll get some good rest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stay” translations and entries rester, demeurer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries demeurer, rester, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
