Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| annuler | /a.ny.le/ |
| résilier | /ʁe.zi.lje/ |
| révoquer | /ʁe.vɔ.ke/ |
The English verb 'to void' can be translated into French using different verbs depending on whether you are canceling an appointment, terminating a contract or revoking an official decision. If you are referring to a state of being without something, you might use the adjectives dépourvu or vide. If you are describing an empty space or a vacuum, you can use the nouns vide or néant.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb depends on the specific context of what is being voided. Use annuler for general purposes like canceling an appointment, an order or nullifying the effect of a warranty. Use résilier in legal or formal contexts specifically for terminating or voiding a contract, lease or subscription. Use révoquer for the formal act of voiding or revoking an official decision, a law or a person's authority or power.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/a.ny.le/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use the adjective vide (meaning empty) to mean 'to void' a contract, but vide is not a verb.
Did you know?
- In French, if a law is voided, it is often described as caduque, a word that originally referred to something that had fallen off or decayed like a leaf.
- The French word résilier shares a root with the English word 'resilient'. Both come from the Latin resilire, which describes the action of springing back.
- In French legal contexts, résilier is used specifically for contracts that have a future effect, whereas annuler can imply the contract was void from the very start.
Examples in context
- Ne faites rien qui pourrait annuler la garantie.Don't do anything that might void the warranty.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use annuler regarding a warranty.Tatoeba #8862753 by lbdx, translation #8684711 by sabretou
- L'espace entre les atomes est rempli de vide.The space between atoms is filled with void.
- Je me sens tellement vide à l'intérieur depuis qu'il est parti.I feel so void inside since he left.
- Le système peut annuler votre commande.The system can cancel your order.
- Cette erreur va annuler le contrat.This error will invalidate the contract.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing a legal document.
- GabrielEst-ce que ce document est toujours valide ?Is this document still valid?
- LéaNon, je vais annuler le contrat demain.No, I am going to void the contract tomorrow.
- GabrielPourquoi veux-tu faire cela, Léa ?Why do you want to do that, Léa?
- LéaParce que les conditions ont changé.Because the conditions have changed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “void” translations and entries annuler, résilier, révoquer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries annuler, résilier, révoquer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
