French word

permettre

Pronunciation

IPA/pɛʁmɛtʁ/

Meaning

  • verblet

Example

Je ne permets pas aux enfants de toucher au four.

I don't let the children touch the oven.

Illustration for permettre (let)

More examples

Ses parents lui permettent de sortir tard le week-end.

His parents permit him to go out late on weekends.

Core concept

A gate is opened for someone, or a barrier is removed so an action can happen.

Common phrases

  • permettre à quelqu'un de

    permit someone to

  • se permettre de

    permit oneself to

  • permettre l'accès à

    permit access to

Similar words

autoriser: Officially approves an action or gives permission for it.
accorder: Grants a request, permission, or special privilege.
laisser: Lets something happen by refraining from intervening or stopping it.
tolérer: Accepts something objectionable without banning or stopping it.

Definition in French

Donner à quelqu'un la permission ou la possibilité de faire quelque chose, ou rendre une action ou une situation possible.

Word origin

French permettre comes from Latin permittere, formed from per- meaning 'through' and mittere meaning 'send', with the sense of letting something pass.

Usage tips

  • The usual construction is permettre à + person + de + infinitive, as in permettre aux enfants de toucher au four.

Other meanings

  • enableverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word