French · Everyday Verbs
"to look / to watch" in French: regarder
regarder
To look or to watch in French is regarder. Je regarde la télé means I'm watching TV; Regarde ! means Look! It covers looking at something and watching media.
Pointing at a street performer
Regarde ce musicien sur le pont.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce regarder
Say it
ruh-gar-DAY
/ʁə.ɡaʁ.de/
Regarder is ruh-gar-DAY. Je regarde is zhuh ruh-GARD. Soft French r in both places.
"to look / to watch" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| regarder | to look / to watch Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| Regarde ! | Look! Quick attention grab. | Quick attention grab. |
| je regarde | I look / I'm watching Present tense. | Present tense. |
| regarder un film | to watch a movie Media use. | Media use. |
How to use regarder in real life
- 1Pointing at a street performer
Regarde ce musicien sur le pont.
Look at that musician on the bridge.
Imperative Regarde.
- 2Evening plans
On regarde un film chez toi ?
Shall we watch a movie at yours?
On regarde for we watch.
- 3At a museum
Je regarde ce tableau depuis cinq minutes.
I've been looking at this painting for five minutes.
Je regarde.
Mistakes English speakers make with regarder
Incorrect: Je vois la télé every night.
Correct: Je regarde la télé tous les soirs.
Watching TV uses regarder, not voir.
Incorrect: Looke ça !
Correct: Regarde ça !
Use Regarde for Look!
Good to know
Voir is to see (perceive); regarder is the deliberate look or watch. Je te vois is I see you; Je te regarde is I'm looking at you.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing something on a streaming app
ChatPal
Tu regardes quoi en ce moment ?
What are you watching these days?
You
Je regarde une série belge.
I'm watching a Belgian series.
ChatPal
Elle est bien ?
Is it good?
You
Oui, assez addictive.
Yes, pretty addictive.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to look / to watch" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to look / to watch" in French
How do you say to look in French?
Regarder.
How do you say look!?
Regarde !
Is voir the same?
No — voir is to see; regarder is to look/watch.
How do you say I'm watching a film?
Je regarde un film.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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