servir

to serve

verb sehr-VEER Common

Also means

to be used for

Usage Note

Servir pairs with à to mean 'to be used for' (ça sert à quoi? — 'what's that for?'), making it indispensable in everyday speech. Reflexively, se servir de means 'to use' or 'to help oneself to food.' The related noun le service is used for both a favour and a service charge at a restaurant.

Examples

"Ça sert à rien de crier."

Natural Translation

There's no point in shouting.

Literal Translation

That serves to nothing to shout.

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