Free - French Lesson

The English word "free" can be an adjective, adverb, verb, or noun and has a number of different meanings, which can make it difficult to translate into French. Take a look at this lesson on how to say free in French.

Free as an adjective

1) free = costing nothing = gratuit, (informal) gratis
free admission = entrée gratuite, entrée libre
free delivery = la livraison gratuite, franco de port
free French lessons = leçons de français gratuites
free newspaper = un journal gratis
free offer = une offre gratuite
free sample = un échantillon gratuit
free trip = un voyage gratis

2) free = at liberty, not imprisoned, tied up, or controlled = libre
as free as a bird, as free as the air (UK) = libre comme l'air
the free movement of people = la libre circulation des personnes
free radical = un radical libre

3) free = politically independent = libre
free elections = les élections libres

free enterprise = la libre entreprise
free-enterprise economy = une économie de marché

free press = la presse libre

free trade = le libre-échange
free-trader = un libre-échangiste

free world = le monde libre

the Free French Forces, Free French Army = les Forces françaises libres

4) free = unrestrained = libre
free association = la libre association
free choice = le choix libre
free climbing = une escalade libre
free diving = la plongée libre

free fall = une chute libre
   in free fall = en chute libre
   to go into free fall = entamer une chute libre

free love = un amour libre
free-fire zone = un secteur / une zone de tir libre
free flight = le vol libre
free skating = les figures libres de patinage

free spirit = un esprit libre
free-spirited = (person) libre d'esprit, (ways) libre

free translation = la traduction libre
free verse = le vers libre
free will = le libre arbitre, son propre gré
You're free to choose = Vous êtes libre de choisir

5) free = unoccupied, available, not taken/used = libre
free period/hour = une heure (de) libre
   I will be free at 2 o'clock = je serai libre à 14 heures

free space = un espace libre
   This seat is free (empty) = Cette place est libre
   Is this table free? = Cette table est-elle libre ?

one's free hand = sa main libre
   to have one's hands free = avoir les mains libres

6) free from, free of = dégagé de, non touché par, non soumis à, sans
free from obligation = dégagé de toute obligation
free of malaria = non touché par la malaria
free from copyright = non soumis au droit d'auteur
free of worries = sans souci


Free as an adverb

1) free = without payment = gratuitement, gratis
to enter free of charge = entrer gratuitement
to travel for free = voyager gratis

2) free = without restraint = en liberté
to leave someone free (at large) = laisser quelqu'un en liberté

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