French word

informer

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃fɔʁme/

Meaning

  • verbtell

Example

Il m'informe toujours quand il arrive.

He always tells me when he arrives.

Illustration for informer (tell)

More examples

Je t'informerai dès que j'aurai des nouvelles.

I will inform you as soon as I have news.

Core concept

A clear report passes from a source to the person who needs to know what happened.

Common phrases

  • informer quelqu'un de quelque chose

    inform someone of something

  • informer la police

    inform the police

Similar words

dire: Tell someone something directly in speech.
prévenir: Give advance notice of something.
annoncer: Make information public through an announcement.
avertir: Warn about a danger or problem to encourage caution.

Definition in French

Donner à quelqu'un des renseignements ou des nouvelles concernant un fait ou une situation.

Word origin

French informer comes from Latin informare, which originally meant to shape or give form and later developed meanings involving the mind and the communication of information.

Usage tips

  • The usual construction is informer quelqu'un de quelque chose or informer quelqu'un que..., with the recipient as a direct object rather than after à.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word