Demander is likely the first verb you learned for 'to ask' in French. It's a great start, but the French language, with its beautiful nuances, offers so much more!

Whether you're inquiring about the time, asking for a favor, or simply posing a question, having a range of options can make your conversations much richer and more natural.

Ready to expand your vocabulary and sound more like a native speaker? Let's explore 9 fantastic ways to say 'to ask' in French, each with its own perfect moment to shine!

The general 'to ask' – demander

Demander is the most common and versatile French verb for ‘to ask’. It can mean both ‘to ask a question’ and ‘to ask for something’.

As a regular -ER verb, demander conjugates predictably. For example, in the present tense: je demande, tu demandes, il/elle/on demande, nous demandons, vous demandez, ils/elles demandent.

Understanding whether to use a direct or indirect object with demander is crucial. You ask something (direct object) and you ask to someone (indirect object). For instance, demander un renseignement (to ask for information) vs. demander à quelqu’un (to ask someone).

A common mistake for English speakers is to use pour after demander when asking for something. In French, you simply demander quelque chose. For example, Je demande de l'aide (I'm asking for help), not Je demande pour de l'aide.

While demander can mean ‘to ask a question’, the more specific and often preferred phrase is poser une question. You would demander une question in the sense of 'to request a question' (e.g., in a Q&A session), but poser is for the act of asking a question itself.

Demander isn't limited to just 'asking'. It can also convey the idea of ‘to request’ or even ‘to demand’, depending on the context and tone. For example, a boss might demander something of an employee.

When you want to ask to do something, you use demander à followed by an infinitive. For example, Je demande à partir (I ask to leave).

As with many French verbs, the precise meaning of demander often becomes clear from the surrounding context. Pay attention to prepositions and the nature of the object to grasp the intended nuance.

💡 * Je lui ai demandé l'heure. (I asked him/her the time.)

Elle a demandé à ses parents de l'argent. (She asked her parents for money.)

Nous demandons votre attention. (We ask for your attention.)

Il a demandé à parler au directeur. (He asked to speak to the director.)

Ne me demande pas pourquoi. (Don't ask me why.)

J'ai posé une question au professeur. (I asked the teacher a question.)

To 'ask a question' – poser une question

When you want to express 'to ask a question' in French, the most accurate and universally accepted phrase is poser une question.

The verb poser literally translates to 'to place' or 'to put.' Therefore, poser une question can be conceptually understood as 'to put forth a question' or 'to lay down a question.' While it might seem less direct than a literal translation from English, this is the established and correct idiomatic expression.

A frequent error among French learners is attempting to use demander directly with question, as in 'demander une question.' This is grammatically incorrect. While demander means 'to ask for' or 'to request,' it's used for asking for something (e.g., demander un renseignement - 'to ask for information') or asking someone a question (demander à quelqu'un une question), but never to 'ask a question' itself. Always remember to poser une question.

This fundamental phrase is applicable across all registers and situations. Whether a student is addressing a professor, a journalist is interrogating a public figure, or simply one friend is seeking clarification from another, poser une question is the go-to expression.

Poser is a regular -ER verb, which simplifies its conjugation significantly. This means it follows predictable patterns, making it easy to integrate into various tenses. For example, 'I ask a question' is Je pose une question, and 'He asked a question' in the past tense is Il a posé une question.

💡 * Puis-je poser une question ? (Can I ask a question?)* L'étudiant a posé une question très pertinente. (The student asked a very relevant question.)* N'hésitez pas à poser des questions si vous avez des doutes. (Don't hesitate to ask questions if you have doubts.)* Elle a posé la même question trois fois. (She asked the same question three times.)

To 'inquire' or 'ask for information' – s'informer / se renseigner

When you need to 'inquire' or 'ask for information' in French, two common reflexive verbs come to mind: s'informer and se renseigner.

Both verbs convey the idea of seeking knowledge or details about something. They are essential for situations where you need to get informed or make inquiries.

S'informer generally means 'to inform oneself' or 'to get information.' It's often used when you're seeking general knowledge or updates. Se renseigner, on the other hand, implies 'to inquire,' 'to ask for information,' or 'to get details,' often with a more active sense of asking specific questions or seeking specific details.

Both s'informer and se renseigner are reflexive verbs, meaning they require a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject. For example, je m'informe (I inform myself) or tu te renseignes (you inquire).

To specify what you're inquiring about, you'll often use prepositions. Both can be followed by sur (about/on) for the topic, or auprès de (from/with) to indicate the person or source you're asking.

While often interchangeable, s'informer might be slightly more common for passively receiving information or getting general updates (e.g., s'informer sur l'actualité - to get informed about current events). Se renseigner often implies a more active search or direct questioning (e.g., se renseigner sur les horaires - to inquire about the schedule).

💡 * Je vais m'informer sur les nouvelles mesures. (I'm going to get informed about the new measures.)

Elle se renseigne auprès de la mairie pour les démarches administratives. (She's inquiring with the town hall about the administrative procedures.)

Nous nous sommes informés avant de partir en voyage. (We informed ourselves before leaving on the trip.)

Tu devrais te renseigner sur les prix. (You should inquire about the prices.)

Ils s'informent régulièrement sur les marchés financiers. (They regularly inform themselves about the financial markets.)

To 'request' or 'solicit' (often for a favor or help) – solliciter

The verb solliciter in French translates to 'to request,' 'to solicit,' or 'to seek.' It implies making a formal or earnest appeal for something.

Unlike the more general demander ('to ask'), solliciter often suggests a more formal, official, or persistent request, typically for a favor, assistance, or information.

It is commonly used in phrases such as solliciter un rendez-vous (to request an appointment), solliciter l'aide de quelqu'un (to seek someone's help), or solliciter des fonds (to solicit funds).

💡 * Nous devons solliciter l'avis de nos experts. (We must seek the advice of our experts.)

Elle a sollicité un entretien avec le directeur. (She requested an interview with the director.)

L'association sollicite des dons pour son projet. (The association is soliciting donations for its project.)

Il n'a pas hésité à solliciter mon aide. (He didn't hesitate to ask for my help.)

To 'question' or 'interrogate' (often more formal or intense) – interroger

The verb interroger directly translates to 'to question' or 'to interrogate' in English.

Unlike the more general demander ('to ask'), interroger implies a more structured, formal, or intense line of questioning. It often carries a sense of seriousness or officiality.

You'll frequently find interroger used in contexts such as police investigations, academic exams, or when journalists question public figures. It's about probing for specific information or testing knowledge.

Interroger typically takes a direct object (the person or entity being questioned). You can also use interroger quelqu'un sur quelque chose (to question someone about something).

It can also be used reflexively as s'interroger, meaning 'to wonder' or 'to ask oneself' about something, often implying doubt, reflection, or internal questioning.

💡 * La police interroge le suspect depuis deux heures. (The police have been questioning the suspect for two hours.)

Le professeur a interrogé les élèves sur la leçon d'hier. (The teacher questioned the students about yesterday's lesson.)

Les journalistes ont interrogé la ministre sur la nouvelle loi. (The journalists questioned the minister about the new law.)

Je m'interroge souvent sur le sens de la vie. (I often wonder about the meaning of life.)

Ne t'interroge pas trop, c'est une décision simple. (Don't question yourself too much, it's a simple decision.)

To 'beg' or 'plead' (for mercy, a favor) – prier

The French verb prier primarily means “to pray.” However, it also commonly translates to “to beg” or “to plead,” especially when asking for mercy, a favor, or someone to do something.

When used to mean “to beg” or “to plead,” prier suggests a stronger, more earnest request than a simple “demander” (to ask). It often implies desperation, urgency, or a deep desire for something.

You'll often hear prier in contexts where someone is pleading for mercy, a favor, or for someone to stop or do something specific. It conveys a sense of earnest supplication.

A very common polite expression using prier is Je vous en prie (or Je t'en prie informally), which means “You’re welcome” or “Please (go ahead/I insist).” This showcases a different, more formal facet of the verb's usage.

In summary, while prier is fundamentally about prayer, its use in “to beg” or “to plead” carries significant emotional weight, making it a powerful word for expressing urgent or desperate requests.

💡 * Il l'a prié de rester. (He begged her to stay.)

Je vous prie de bien vouloir m'excuser. (I beg you to please excuse me. / Please accept my apologies.)

Les prisonniers ont prié pour leur liberté. (The prisoners pleaded for their freedom.)

Je t'en prie, ne fais pas ça ! (Please, don't do that!)

Je vous en prie, asseyez-vous. (Please, sit down. / You're welcome, sit down.)

To 'demand' or 'insist upon' (often with authority) – exiger

The French verb exiger translates most directly to "to demand" or "to require." It signifies a strong expectation or a non-negotiable request, often implying a sense of obligation or necessity.

Unlike simply demander (to ask), exiger carries a connotation of authority or firm insistence. It's used when someone in a position of power or with a strong will makes a demand that is expected to be met, or when a situation inherently requires something.

Grammatically, exiger can take a direct object (e.g., exiger quelque chose) or be followed by que + the subjunctive mood when the demand is directed at an action or state (e.g., exiger que quelqu'un fasse quelque chose).

💡 * Le professeur exige le silence en classe. (The teacher demands silence in class.)

J'exige que tu me dises la vérité. (I demand that you tell me the truth.)

La loi exige le port du casque à moto. (The law requires wearing a helmet on a motorcycle.)

Ils exigent une explication immédiate. (They demand an immediate explanation.)

Nous exigeons des conditions de travail décentes. (We demand decent working conditions.)

To 'ask for' a specific object or service – demander quelque chose

Demander is the most common French verb for 'to ask for' something specific. It implies a request for an object, a service, information, or even permission.

When you want to ask for what you desire, demander is directly followed by the noun or pronoun representing that object or service. For example, demander un café (to ask for a coffee) or demander un service (to ask for a favor).

To specify who you are asking, you use the preposition à followed by the person or entity. The structure becomes demander quelque chose à quelqu'un (to ask something from someone).

💡 * Je vais demander de l'aide à mon professeur. (I'm going to ask my teacher for help.)

Ils ont demandé la facture au serveur. (They asked the waiter for the bill.)

Nous devons demander la permission avant d'entrer. (We must ask for permission before entering.)

J'ai demandé un renseignement au policier. (I asked the police officer for a piece of information.)

Elle a demandé un verre d'eau. (She asked for a glass of water.)

To 'seek advice' or 'consult' – demander conseil / consulter

When you want to express "to seek advice" or "to consult" in French, the two most common phrases you'll encounter are demander conseil and consulter.

The phrase demander conseil literally translates to "to ask for advice." It's typically used when you are seeking guidance, an opinion, or recommendations from someone, often a friend, family member, or an expert in an informal context. It emphasizes the act of asking for advice.

Consulter, on the other hand, means "to consult." While it can sometimes overlap with demander conseil, it often implies a more formal or professional interaction. You consult a doctor, a lawyer, a document, or an expert in a structured setting. It suggests a more active process of referring to someone or something for information or professional opinion.

The main difference lies in the formality and the nature of the interaction. Demander conseil is about asking for advice from someone, while consulter is about consulting someone or something for information, often in a professional capacity. Think of demander conseil as seeking guidance, and consulter as seeking expert opinion or information.

💡 * Je dois demander conseil à mon père pour ma carrière. (I need to ask my father for advice about my career.)

Elle a demandé conseil à son ami avant de prendre sa décision. (She asked her friend for advice before making her decision.)

Il faut consulter un médecin si tu te sens mal. (You must consult a doctor if you feel unwell.)

J'ai consulté les horaires des trains en ligne. (I consulted the train schedules online.)

Avant d'acheter, je vais consulter des avis sur internet. (Before buying, I'm going to consult reviews online.)

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

Are there other ways to say “to ask” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “to ask” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire demander en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for demander on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about asking for things.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of asking, or words about asking in French, the WordReference entry for demander is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of an ancient Chinese proverb: Celui qui pose une question est un idiot pour cinq minutes, celui qui n'en pose pas est un idiot pour toujours. (He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not is a fool forever.)

9 ways to say "to ask" in French