impôt

tax

noun ihm-PO Less Common

Usage Note

Impôt refers to a direct tax levied by the state, most commonly l'impôt sur le revenu (income tax). It differs from taxe (indirect tax, e.g. VAT) and cotisation (social-security contribution). The plural impôts is often used colloquially to mean the tax authorities or one's annual tax return: je fais mes impôts (I'm doing my taxes).

Examples

"Il paie ses impôts chaque année."

Natural Translation

He pays his taxes every year.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

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

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read