jeter
/ʒə.te/
The English phrase 'throw' can be translated into French as jeter or lancer.
Meaning: to cause an object to move rapidly through the air (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| jeter | /ʒə.te/ /ʃte/ (Louisiana) |
| lancer | /lɑ̃.se/ |
To say 'to throw' in French, you can use several verbs depending on your intention. Use lancer for the common and versatile act of throwing or launching an object. Use jeter when your intent is to discard something or to cast something away. There is also an idiomatic expression jeter un coup d'œil, which means 'to throw a glance' or 'to take a look' for a quick glance.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two main verbs depends on the goal of the action: jeter is typically used when you want to throw something away or discard it, while lancer is used when the goal is to propel an object with force, such as during sports or when hurling a projectile.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə.te/
Did you know?
- The expression jeter un froid literally means 'to throw a cold'. It describes the moment someone says something that suddenly makes the atmosphere in a room awkward or tense.
- The phrase jeter l'éponge means 'to throw in the towel'. Like the English idiom, it comes from boxing and signifies giving up, but it is used even more frequently in casual French conversation for any failure.
- The word jeter is used to describe a 'thrown' or 'dashed' sketch called a croquis jeté. This refers to a drawing done quickly and without much correction, as if the lines were thrown onto the paper.
Examples in context
- Tu devrais jeter ça.You should throw this out.This sentence is useful for using jeter to express throwing something out.Tatoeba #7802628 by Aiji, translation #3356343 by CK
- Tu devrais les jeter.You should throw those away.This sentence is useful for using jeter to express throwing something away.Tatoeba #11547395 by lbdx, translation #3385057 by CK
- Vous devriez le jeter.You should throw it out.Tatoeba #11601705 by Aiji, translation #3385052 by CK
- Il a lancé la balle au joueur de baseball.He threw the ball to the baseball player.
- Les enfants ont jeté le papier dans la corbeille.The children threw the paper in the garbage bin.
- Il faut jeter ces vieux vêtements.We need to throw away these old clothes.
- Il a envoyé la balle hors du terrain.He threw the ball out of the field.
- Il a balancé la clé sur la table.He tossed the key onto the table.
- Elle a balancé son vieux livre par la fenêtre.She chucked her old book out of the window.
- Il faut se débarrasser de tous ces vieux journaux.We need to get rid of all these old newspapers.
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a park, Lucas is playing with a ball.
- LucasPeux-tu me jeter la balle ?Can you throw the ball to me?
- ChloéOui, la voilà !Yes, here it is!
- LucasElle va trop vite quand tu la jettes.It goes too fast when you throw it.
- ChloéJe vais faire attention, Lucas.I will be careful, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “throw” translations and entries jeter, lancer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
