imposer

to impose

verb ahm-poh-ZEH Less Common

Also means

to compel

Usage Note

Imposer can be transitive (imposer une règle, 'to impose a rule') or reflexive (s'imposer, 'to assert oneself' or 'to be required'). S'imposer is common in contexts like 'une visite s'impose' ('a visit is clearly needed'). The noun impôt (tax) shares the same Latin root.

Examples

"Il ne faut pas imposer ses opinions."

Natural Translation

You shouldn't impose your opinions on others.

Literal Translation

You must not impose your opinions.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Ordering Food in French: Restaurant Phrases That Work

Order food in French with confidence: greet first, say je voudrais not je veux, ask for a carafe d'eau, answer quelle cuisson, and request the bill yourself.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Filler Words: Euh, Bah, Du Coup, Quoi

French filler words like euh, bah, du coup, and quoi make you sound fluent, not lazy. Learn what each one does, where it goes, and how to use them naturally.

June 4, 2026 6 min read