Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| télécharger | /te.le.ʃaʁ.ʒe/ |
| téléverser | /te.le.vɛʁ.se/ |
The term refers to the process of transferring data. While téléverser is the dedicated term for uploading, télécharger is frequently used in everyday speech to cover both uploading and downloading. Additionally, in informal contexts such as social media, one might use the concept of 'posting' to refer to uploading content.
What does it mean word for word?
The word téléverser is a compound of télé- (meaning remote or electronic) and verser (meaning to pour or to transfer), literally meaning to 'pour' data to a remote location.
Which one should you use?
téléverser is the precise technical term used to distinguish the action of uploading from the action of downloading. In contrast, télécharger is the common term used in general parlance, though its primary meaning is 'to download'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/te.le.ʃaʁ.ʒe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use télécharger when they specifically mean 'to upload'. While common, this can cause ambiguity in technical contexts where it is important to distinguish uploading from downloading.
Did you know?
- The word verser in téléverser is also the same word used for 'pouring' wine or 'depositing' money into a bank account.
- In Quebec, the term téléverser is much more widely accepted and used in daily life than it is in France.
- The word charger also means 'to charge' a battery, meaning one word handles loading data, loading cargo and powering a phone.
Examples in context
- Comment puis-je télécharger une photo sur ton site web ?How can I upload a photo to your website?This sentence is useful for asking how to use télécharger to put a photo on a website.Tatoeba #2399972 by sacredceltic, translation #2396053 by CK
- Je n'arrive pas à comprendre comment télécharger une image.I can't figure out how to upload an image.This sentence shows how to express difficulty with the process of télécharger an image.Tatoeba #955572 by sacredceltic, translation #953393 by CK
- Veuillez téléverser vos travaux sur le serveur du collège avant le 15 août.Please upload your work to the college server by August 15th.This sentence demonstrates a formal instruction to use téléverser for submitting work to a server.Tatoeba #13538243 by Myrano_, translation #13538245 by Myrano_
- Assurez-vous de télécharger les documents requis sur la plateforme.Make sure to upload the required documents on the platform.
- Tu peux uploader les photos sur le groupe Facebook ?Can you upload the photos to the Facebook group?
- J'ai mis en ligne ma nouvelle vidéo sur YouTube.I've uploaded my new video on YouTube.
- J'ai posté les photos de la soirée sur Instagram.I uploaded the party photos on Instagram.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas is asking Manon for help with a school project.
- LucasEst-ce que tu peux m'aider à télécharger ce fichier ?Can you help me upload this file?
- ManonOui, Lucas, clique sur le bouton bleu ici.Yes, Lucas, click on the blue button here.
- LucasC'est fait, je viens de télécharger le document.It's done, I just uploaded the document.
- ManonParfait, Manon a bien reçu ton travail.Perfect, Manon has received your work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “upload” translations and entries télécharger, téléverser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
