French Conversation · Level 6
87 words
French word
demander
Pronunciation
IPA/dəmɑ̃de/
Meaning
- verbask
Example
Je demande un service à mon voisin.
I ask my neighbor for a favor.
More examples
Elle a demandé l'addition au serveur.
She asked the waiter for the bill.
Core concept
A person directs words toward someone to obtain a thing, service, answer, or action.
Common phrases
demander quelque chose
ask for something
demander à quelqu'un
ask someone
demander l'addition
ask for the bill
Similar words
poser: To ask a question and seek an answer.
prier: To politely ask someone to act or provide help.
Definition in French
Exprimer à quelqu'un le souhait d'obtenir quelque chose, une aide ou une information, soit en posant une question, soit en formulant une requête.
Word origin
French demander comes through Old French from Latin demandare, meaning 'entrust' or 'charge', whose sense developed toward asking and requesting.
Usage tips
- In ordinary French, demander usually means 'ask' or 'request', while the stronger English sense 'demand' is often expressed by exiger.