payer
/pɛ.je/
The English phrase "to pay" is translated into French as payer.
payer is used to express the act of paying. Other verbs offer more specific nuances: Défrayer is used when someone covers the expenses for another person, while Régler is commonly used in everyday situations, especially when dealing with bills in restaurants or shops. In legal or administrative contexts, Acquitter is often used to indicate the completion of a payment or settling of an account.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the phrase Régler la note is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person plural present tense form of payer is payons. The imperfect form is payait (was paying / used to pay), and the past participle is payé (paid).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɛ.je/
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase payer en nature does not mean paying with natural materials. It refers to paying for a service with sexual favors or goods instead of money.
- The verb payer shares an unlikely ancestor with the word 'pacify'. It stems from the Latin 'pacare', meaning to bring peace or to appease, suggesting that paying a debt was originally seen as the act of making peace with a creditor.
- When someone says ça paye, they are not talking about a transaction. They are using it as a slang term to say that a certain strategy or look is working or is successful.
Examples in context
- Dois-je te payer ?Do I have to pay you?This sentence is useful for asking if you have an obligation to use payer.Tatoeba #2036200 by sacredceltic, translation #1886119 by CK
- Il refusa de payer.He refused to pay.This sentence shows the use of payer in a refusal.Tatoeba #1936180 by sacredceltic, translation #1935325 by Spamster
- Je refuse de payer.I refuse to pay.Tatoeba #8027004 by Aiji, translation #7924068 by AlanF_US
- Je vais payer l'additionI am going to pay the bill
- Mon patron défraie mes frais de voyageMy boss pays for my travel expenses
- Je vais payer mon repasI am going to pay for my meal
- Je vais régler l'addition tout de suiteI am going to settle the bill right away
- J'ai payé 20 euros pour le livreI paid 20 euros for the book
- Elle a payé la facture du restaurant hier soirShe paid the restaurant bill last night
- Nous devons régler nos factures mensuellesWe need to pay our monthly bills
- 216 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are at a café after lunch.
- LéaL'addition est arrivée, Hugo.The bill has arrived, Hugo.
- HugoC'est moi qui vais payer.I am the one who will pay.
- LéaTu veux payer par carte ?Do you want to pay by card?
- HugoNon, je vais payer en espèces.No, I am going to pay in cash.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry payer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries payer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
