Who doesn't love something for free? Whether you're navigating a sale, asking for a complimentary item, or simply describing a cost-free situation, knowing how to express "free" in French is incredibly useful. While "gratuit" is a great start, the French language offers several nuanced ways to convey this concept, each perfect for different contexts. Get ready to expand your vocabulary and discover 9 different expressions to say "free" in French, making your conversations more natural and precise!

The 'free of charge' or 'complimentary' – gratuit/gratuite

Gratuit(e) is the most common and direct French word for something that is 'free of charge' or 'complimentary'.

Like many French adjectives, gratuit(e) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll see it as:gratuit - masculine singular (e.g., un service gratuit)gratuite - feminine singular (e.g., une entrée gratuite)gratuits - masculine plural (e.g., des cours gratuits)gratuites - feminine plural (e.g., des places gratuites)

This adjective is specifically used to indicate that no payment is required for a good, service, or event. It's the go-to word when you want to express 'for free' in terms of cost.

If you need to use 'for free' as an adverb (describing how something is done), you'll use gratuitement. For example, On peut entrer gratuitement (We can enter for free).

It's crucial to differentiate gratuit (free of charge) from libre (free in the sense of liberty, available, or not occupied). While a service gratuit costs nothing, être libre means to be free (not busy) or to have freedom.

You'll frequently encounter gratuit or gratuite on signs, advertisements, and public service announcements, especially for museums, public transport, events, and samples.

💡 *L'entrée au musée est gratuite le premier dimanche du mois. (Entry to the museum is free on the first Sunday of the month.)*J'ai téléchargé le logiciel gratuitement. (I downloaded the software for free.)*Ce concert en plein air est entièrement gratuit. (This open-air concert is entirely free.)*Nous offrons des échantillons gratuits à nos clients. (We offer free samples to our customers.)*Y a-t-il des parkings gratuits près d'ici ? (Are there any free parking lots near here?)

The 'free' (as in freedom or liberty) – libre

The French adjective libre translates directly to 'free' in English, primarily conveying the idea of freedom, liberty, or being unrestricted.

At its core, libre describes a state of being unconstrained, emancipated, or not subject to control. This can apply to individuals, nations, or even abstract concepts like 'free will' (libre arbitre).

Beyond abstract freedom, libre is also commonly used to indicate that something is available, unoccupied, or not busy. For example, a seat can be libre, or a person can be libre (free) to meet or do something.

It's crucial for learners to distinguish libre from gratuit. While both can translate to 'free' in English, gratuit specifically means 'free of charge' or 'without cost'. Libre never refers to cost; it always implies freedom, availability, or being unconstrained.

As an adjective, libre agrees in number with the noun it modifies. It is one of the adjectives that has the same form for masculine and feminine singular (un homme libre, une femme libre), but it takes an 's' in the plural (des hommes libres, des femmes libres).

You'll often hear être libre (to be free), temps libre (free time), or à libre choix (of one's own free choice), emphasizing its versatility in expressing different facets of freedom and availability in everyday French.

💡 * Je suis libre ce soir, on peut dîner ensemble. (I am free tonight, we can have dinner together.)

Chaque individu devrait être libre de ses choix. (Every individual should be free in their choices.)

La place à côté de moi est libre. (The seat next to me is free/available.)

Il rêve d'une vie plus libre, loin des contraintes. (He dreams of a freer life, far from constraints.)

Le Wi-Fi ici est gratuit, mais le réseau n'est pas libre d'accès. (The Wi-Fi here is free [of charge], but the network is not free [unrestricted] to access.)

The 'available' or 'unoccupied' – disponible

The French adjective disponible is a versatile word that translates to 'available' or 'unoccupied' in English, depending on the context.

Disponible primarily means 'available,' indicating that something or someone is ready for use, accessible, or present.

As an adjective, disponible agrees in number with the noun it modifies, but it is invariable in gender (it doesn't change for masculine or feminine). So, it's disponible for both masculine and feminine singular, and disponibles for both masculine and feminine plural.

You can use disponible to describe a person who is free to talk or meet, or an item that is in stock or ready for purchase. For instance, 'Je suis disponible cet après-midi' means 'I am available this afternoon.'

It also frequently means 'unoccupied' or 'free' when referring to space, time, or resources. For example, 'Il n'y a plus de places disponibles' means 'There are no more seats available/unoccupied.'

Some common phrases include 'être disponible' (to be available) and 'rendre disponible' (to make available). It's a key word in professional and logistical contexts.

Remember that the precise meaning of disponible – whether it's 'available' or 'unoccupied' – is always determined by the context in which it's used.

💡 * Êtes-vous disponible demain? (Are you available tomorrow?)

Le produit est maintenant disponible en ligne. (The product is now available online.)

Il n'y a plus de chambres disponibles à l'hôtel. (There are no more rooms available at the hotel.)

Je suis disponible pour vous aider. (I am available to help you.)

Nous avons plusieurs créneaux horaires disponibles. (We have several time slots available.)

The 'at no cost' – à titre gratuit

The phrase à titre gratuit means 'at no cost' or 'free of charge' in French.

This expression is typically used in formal, legal, or administrative contexts to specify that a service, good, or action is provided without any financial compensation.

While gratuit simply means 'free' (e.g., a free gift, un cadeau gratuit), à titre gratuit emphasizes the absence of payment for a service or a specific action, often implying a deliberate decision not to charge.

It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that the action is performed without remuneration. It is invariable.

💡 * Le service est offert à titre gratuit. (The service is offered free of charge.)

Ils ont mis leur appartement à disposition à titre gratuit. (They made their apartment available free of charge.)

L'association fournit une aide juridique à titre gratuit aux personnes démunies. (The association provides free legal aid to underprivileged people.)

Le logiciel est téléchargeable à titre gratuit sur notre site. (The software is downloadable free of charge on our website.)

The 'clear' or 'unobstructed' – dégagé/dégagée

The French adjective dégagé (masculine) or dégagée (feminine) primarily means 'clear,' 'unobstructed,' or 'free from encumbrance.'

It's often used to describe a physical space that is open, clear, or free of obstacles. Think of a 'clear view' or an 'unobstructed path'.

Beyond physical clarity, dégagé can also describe a person's attitude or a situation that is 'relaxed,' 'unconstrained,' 'carefree,' or even 'unconcerned' – suggesting a certain ease.

As an adjective, dégagé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use dégagé for masculine singular nouns and dégagée for feminine singular nouns. For plurals, you'd use dégagés (masculine) and dégagées (feminine).

This versatility makes dégagé/dégagée a useful word to describe both tangible freedom and a sense of emotional or situational ease.

💡 * La vue est complètement dégagée. (The view is completely clear/unobstructed.)

Elle a l'air très dégagée face à la situation. (She seems very relaxed/unconcerned about the situation.)

Il faut que cette allée soit dégagée pour le passage. (This path needs to be clear for passage.)

Son style est très dégagé, très naturel. (His style is very relaxed, very natural.)

Les rues sont dégagées après la neige. (The streets are clear after the snow.)

The 'spare time' or 'leisure' – temps libre

The 'spare time' or 'leisure' – temps libre

In French, temps libre literally means 'free time' or 'leisure time.' It is the most common and direct way to refer to periods when one is not working, studying, or fulfilling essential obligations.

This phrase is universally understood and used across all social contexts and age groups. Unlike some slang terms, temps libre is a neutral and polite way to inquire about or discuss someone's availability or recreational hours. It's often contrasted with travail (work) or études (studies).

While temps libre refers to the time itself, you might also encounter the word loisirs, which specifically means 'leisure activities' or 'hobbies.' So, you have temps libre to do your loisirs.

Mastering temps libre is crucial for everyday conversations in French, allowing you to discuss plans, relaxation, and personal interests. It's a foundational phrase for describing your life outside of commitments.

💡 *Qu'est-ce que tu fais pendant ton temps libre ? (What do you do during your free time?)
*J'ai très peu de temps libre cette semaine. (I have very little free time this week.)
*Profite bien de ton temps libre ! (Enjoy your free time!)
*Nous passons notre temps libre à lire et à nous promener. (We spend our free time reading and walking.)
*Le temps libre est essentiel pour se détendre. (Free time is essential for relaxing.)

The 'released' or 'at large' – en liberté

The French phrase en liberté literally translates to “in liberty” but is commonly used to mean “released,” “at large,” or “free” in various contexts.

It frequently describes animals that are no longer caged or people who are no longer imprisoned, emphasizing their state of being free or at large.

Beyond literal release, en liberté can also refer to a general state of freedom, allowing for movement or action without constraint, although its most common applications are tied to physical release from confinement.

💡 * Le tigre s'est échappé et est maintenant en liberté. (The tiger escaped and is now at large.)

Après dix ans de prison, il a été remis en liberté. (After ten years in prison, he was released.)

Les oiseaux volent en liberté dans le ciel. (The birds fly freely in the sky.)

La police recherche le suspect qui est toujours en liberté. (The police are looking for the suspect who is still at large.)

The 'offered' or 'given' (complimentary) – offert/offerte

The terms offert and offerte are the past participle of the verb offrir (to offer). When used as an adjective, they mean 'offered' or, more commonly, 'given complimentary' or 'free of charge'.

You'll frequently encounter offert or offerte in commercial settings, indicating that something is a gift, a bonus, or included without extra cost. Think of it like 'on the house' or 'complimentary'.

As an adjective, offert (masculine singular) and offerte (feminine singular) must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For plural, you'll see offerts (masculine plural) and offertes (feminine plural).

This word is often seen on menus, tickets, or promotions. For example, 'café offert' means 'coffee is offered/complimentary', or 'entrée offerte' means 'free entry'.

💡 * Le dessert est offert avec le plat principal. (The dessert is complimentary with the main course.)

La boisson est offerte. (The drink is complimentary.)

Les entrées sont offertes pour les enfants. (The appetizers are complimentary for children.)

Cette visite guidée est offerte par l'office de tourisme. (This guided tour is offered by the tourist office.)

Elle a reçu une fleur offerte par un inconnu. (She received a flower offered by a stranger.)

The 'without obligation' – sans engagement

When you want to express the idea of something being 'without obligation' or 'without commitment' in French, the phrase you'll most commonly hear and use is sans engagement.

Breaking it down, sans means 'without' and engagement translates to 'commitment,' 'obligation,' or 'contract.' Together, it signifies a lack of a binding long-term agreement or requirement.

You'll frequently encounter sans engagement in the context of services like mobile phone plans, internet subscriptions, gym memberships, or streaming services. It highlights the flexibility to cancel at any time without penalty.

For consumers, a product or service advertised as sans engagement implies freedom. It means you aren't tied into a lengthy contract and can terminate the service whenever you wish, offering peace of mind and adaptability.

The opposite, avec engagement (with commitment), would typically denote a binding contract for a specific duration, often associated with lower monthly fees in exchange for that commitment. Understanding both helps clarify options.

💡 * Ce forfait mobile est sans engagement, vous pouvez changer d'avis quand vous voulez.

L'abonnement à la salle de sport est sans engagement, ce qui est très pratique.

Beaucoup de services en ligne proposent une période d'essai sans engagement.

Est-ce que votre contrat d'électricité est sans engagement?

Nous cherchons une solution flexible, de préférence sans engagement.

Are there other ways to say 'free' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'free' in French, primarily focusing on gratuit (free of charge) and libre (free, as in freedom). But the French language, rich in nuance, offers many other terms, from formal expressions to regional idioms and even evolving slang, that convey various shades of 'free'.

To explore further, you can also do an online search for 'comment dire gratuit en ___' or 'comment dire libre en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, as usage can vary.

You might find some interesting synonyms or related expressions for gratuit or libre in your research. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s precise definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about items being 'free of charge' or individuals and concepts being 'free' in a broader sense.

And if you’re looking for comprehensive ways to discuss different kinds of 'free' or words related to liberation and cost, the WordReference entries for gratuit and libre are excellent places to start your deeper dive!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the nuances of 'free' in French. Here’s a fitting quote to conclude, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau: "L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers." (Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.)

9 ways to say "free" in French