Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| mettre à jour | /mɛ.tʁ‿a ʒuʁ/ /me.tʁ‿a ʒuʁ/ |
| actualiser | /ak.tɥa.li.ze/ |
| updater | /œp.da.te/ /œp.de.te/ |
The phrase is used to mean making something up to date, such as documents, software or information.
Which one should you use?
Mettre à jour is a general-purpose phrase used for updating documents, software or information. In contrast, actualiser is more commonly used in technical contexts, such as refreshing a web page or updating a database. The word updater is also a form of the verb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Mettre à jour is a phrase commonly used for "update" in Canada.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of mettre à jour is la mise à jour. The noun for the action of making something up to date can be mise à jour, actualisation or update.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛ.tʁ‿a ʒuʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly use actualiser to mean "to make something current" in a non-technical sense. However, mettre à jour is more versatile for general use.
Did you know?
- The phrase mettre à jour literally translates to 'to put to day'. This evokes the idea of bringing something into the light of the present day.
- While updater is used in tech circles, it is an anglicism and would be considered incorrect in formal writing or by the Académie Française.
- The word jour in mettre à jour comes from the Late Latin 'diurnum', which is the same root found in the English word 'journal'.
Examples in context
- Comment puis-je mettre à jour ce logiciel ?How can I update this software?This sentence is useful for asking how to update software using mettre à jour.Tatoeba #11452981 by lbdx, translation #4187426 by Eldad
- Pourrais-tu mettre à jour ces données pour moi ?Could I get you to update this data for me?This sentence is useful for requesting that someone update data using mettre à jour.Tatoeba #1118978 by sacredceltic, translation #60881 by CK
- Il faut mettre à jour votre appareil.Your device requires an update.This sentence is useful for stating that a device requires an update using mettre à jour.Tatoeba #13239516 by menaud, translation #13239470 by Lumi
- Avez-vous une mise à jour sur le projet?Do you have an update on the project?
- Je vous prie de m'informer de toute actualisation concernant le rapportPlease inform me of any update regarding the report
- Quelles sont les nouvelles?What's the update?
- Merci pour les informations actuelles, tenez-moi au courant de la suiteThank you for the current information, keep me posted on the progress
- Tu peux me mettre au courant de la situation?Can you update me on the situation?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are at their office working on a project.
- LéaGabriel, il faut mettre à jour le dossier.Gabriel, we need to update the file.
- GabrielD'accord, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Okay, I will take care of it right away.
- LéaMerci, c'est important pour notre travail.Thank you, it is important for our work.
- GabrielNe t'inquiète pas, je vais le faire.Don't worry, I will do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “update” translations and entries mettre à jour, actualiser, updater, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries actualiser, jour, mettre, updater, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
