The usual French verb for “to open” is ouvrir. When “open” describes something that is not closed, use ouvert (masculine), ouverte (feminine), or the matching plural form.
to open = ouvrir; open (not closed) = ouvert / ouverte
Meaning and Pronunciation of Ouvrir
Ouvrir means “to open.” It is pronounced approximately oo-VREER, with the final r pronounced in the French way. It is an irregular verb and is conjugated like a regular -ir verb in the present tense.
Meaning: to open
The Verb Ouvrir
For a polite request, say Ouvrez la porte, s’il vous plaît, “Open the door, please.” Here are common present-tense forms of ouvrir:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| j’ouvre | I open |
| tu ouvres | you open (informal) |
| il / elle ouvre | he / she opens |
| nous ouvrons | we open |
| vous ouvrez | you open (formal or plural) |
| ils / elles ouvrent | they open |
Open as an Adjective
For a door or shop that is open, use ouvert with a masculine noun and ouverte with a feminine noun. The forms agree with the noun: un magasin ouvert, using the article explained in a in French, means “an open shop,” while une porte ouverte means “an open door.”
- ouvert — masculine singular
- ouverte — feminine singular
- ouverts — masculine plural
- ouvertes — feminine plural
Examples
- J’ouvre la fenêtre. — I open the window.
- La banque ouvre à neuf heures. — The bank opens at nine o’clock.
- La porte est ouverte. — The door is open.
- Le magasin est ouvert aujourd’hui. — The shop is open today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say “to open” in French?
Use the verb ouvrir.
How do you say “the door is open”?
Say La porte est ouverte.
Is ouvrir a regular verb?
Ouvrir is irregular overall, though its present-tense endings resemble those of regular -er verbs.
Summary: Open in French
Use ouvrir for the action “to open.” Use ouvert or ouverte when describing something as open, matching the adjective to the noun.
