emporter
/ɑ̃.pɔʁ.te/
To take away in French is emporter.
The verb emporter is used when you want to say you are buying food or drink from a restaurant to eat it somewhere else. It can also function as the general verb for carrying or taking an object away to a different location.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, apporter is commonly used instead of emporter to mean 'to take away'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are describing food or an order intended for takeaway, use the phrase à emporter as an adjective phrase. In this context, the preposition à is placed before the infinitive emporter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.pɔʁ.te/. The word has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The verb emporter can be used to describe a sudden rush of emotion, such as être emporté par la passion, which translates to being 'carried away' by passion.
- In a French restaurant, if you are unsure whether to stay or go, you will hear the server ask sur place ou à emporter?, which literally means 'on the spot or to take away?'
- The word porter is a linguistic relative of the English word 'portable'. Just as something 'portable' can be carried, emporter describes the action of carrying something out.
Examples in context
- des plats à emporterMeals to take awayThis example shows how to use emporter to describe meals intended to be taken away.
- Je voudrais prendre ce sandwich à emporter, s'il vous plaît.I would like to take this sandwich away, please.
- Un café à emporter, s'il vous plaît.A coffee to take away, please.
- Je voudrais emporter ce sandwich, s'il vous plaît.I would like to take this sandwich to go, please.
Example conversation
At a small cafe in Paris.
- LéaBonjour, je voudrais un croissant à emporter.Hello, I would like a croissant to go.
- GabrielTrès bien, est-ce que c'est tout pour vous ?Very well, is that all for you?
- LéaOui, merci beaucoup.Yes, thank you very much.
- GabrielDe rien, bonne journée !You're welcome, have a good day!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry emporter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
