How do you say "explain" in French?

expliquer

Verb Noun

In French, "explain" is expliquer.

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Pronunciation

Pronounce it ex-play-NAY, keeping the stress on the final syllable and the x soft like in exam.

Grammar notes

expliquer is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.

Example sentence

Pouvez-vous expliquer ce mot ?

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How to remember expliquer

Explaining something makes it plain, and expliquer hides the word plain right inside it.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

Questions about expliquer

How do you pronounce expliquer?

Pronounce it ex-play-NAY, keeping the stress on the final syllable and the x soft like in exam.

Is expliquer formal or casual?

expliquer is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is expliquer used in French?

expliquer is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Pouvez-vous expliquer ce mot ? (Can you explain this word?).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Explain" in other languages

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