ranger
/ʁɑ̃.ʒe/
To tidy up in French is said as ranger.
ranger means to put things back in their proper places to make a room or an area neat. While the English term focuses primarily on neatness, ranger also carries the sense of filing documents or arranging items in a specific, logical order.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of ranger is rangé. If you are giving a command to tidy up, you can use the imperative forms range for a single person or rangez when addressing a group or speaking to someone formally.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ʁɑ̃.ʒe/.
Did you know?
- The word rangé can be used to describe a person who is very organized or even someone who is a bit too 'set in their ways'.
- The word ranger is used in French to describe the act of putting soldiers or ships in a precise line for inspection.
- The root of the word, rang, is also found in the English word 'range', as in a 'range' of mountains or a 'range' of items.
Examples in context
- Nous rangerons notre chambre, afin que maman soit satisfaite.We will tidy up our room so that Mom is satisfied.This sentence shows how to use ranger when talking about cleaning a room.Tatoeba #451823 by sacredceltic, translation #451824 by Benjameno
- Veuillez ranger vos affairesPlease tidy up your belongings
- Il est important de mettre en ordre votre espace de travailIt is important to tidy up your workspace
- Nettoyez votre chambreTidy up your room
- Ranger tes affairesTidy up your things
- Je vais faire du rangement dans le salonI am going to tidy up the living room
- Mets de l'ordre dans ton bureauTidy up your office space
- Je dois ranger mes livres sur l'étagère.I must tidy up my books on the shelf.
- Peux-tu ranger tes vêtements dans le placard ?Can you tidy up your clothes in the closet?
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are in the kitchen together.
- HugoOn doit ranger la cuisine maintenant.We have to tidy up the kitchen now.
- LéaD'accord, je m'occupe de la table.Okay, I'll take care of the table.
- HugoMerci Léa, c'est très gentil.Thanks Léa, that's very kind.
- LéaDe rien, Hugo !You're welcome, Hugo!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
