asseoir/a.swaʁ/
verb · B1 · Frequency 377
verb
Meanings
to seat; to sit down
Can mean seating someone or sitting down oneself; the reflexive form `s'asseoir` is the usual everyday form.
to establish; to base; to secure
Often used with abstract nouns such as authority, reputation, a position, or a foundation.
Examples
Avant le spectacle, l'animatrice doit asseoir les enfants au premier rang.
Before the show, the host must seat the children in the front row.
Le médecin conseille d'asseoir le patient près de la fenêtre.
The doctor advises seating the patient near the window.
Cette réforme devrait asseoir durablement la confiance des citoyens.
This reform should firmly establish citizens' trust for the long term.
Collocations
- asseoir quelqu’unto seat someone
- asseoir son autoritéto establish one's authority
Common mistakes
Je vais asseoir sur la chaise.
Je vais m’asseoir sur la chaise.
asseoir is normally transitive when it means to seat someone; when the subject sits down, the reflexive form s’asseoir is required.
Related words
synonyms'asseoirto sit down (reflexive form)
synonyminstallerto install; to arrange
antonymse leverto stand up
Grammar note
The verb asseoir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses; it can be transitive or pronominal.
verb
Meanings
to seat; to sit down
Can mean seating someone or sitting down oneself; the reflexive form `s'asseoir` is the usual everyday form.
to establish; to base; to secure
Often used with abstract nouns such as authority, reputation, a position, or a foundation.
Examples
Avant le spectacle, l'animatrice doit asseoir les enfants au premier rang.
Before the show, the host must seat the children in the front row.
Le médecin conseille d'asseoir le patient près de la fenêtre.
The doctor advises seating the patient near the window.
Cette réforme devrait asseoir durablement la confiance des citoyens.
This reform should firmly establish citizens' trust for the long term.
Grammar note
The verb asseoir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses; it can be transitive or pronominal.
verb
Meanings
to seat; to sit down
Can mean seating someone or sitting down oneself; the reflexive form `s'asseoir` is the usual everyday form.
to establish; to base; to secure
Often used with abstract nouns such as authority, reputation, a position, or a foundation.
Examples
Son père avait assis l'enfant sur ses genoux pour le calmer.
His father had seated the child on his lap to calm him down.
La mère a assis le bébé dans sa chaise haute avant de préparer le repas.
The mother seated the baby in the high chair before preparing the meal.
Cette décision a assis la réputation de l'entreprise dans le secteur.
This decision secured the company's reputation in the sector.
Grammar note
The verb asseoir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses; it can be transitive or pronominal.
verb
Meanings
to seat; to sit down
Can mean seating someone or sitting down oneself; the reflexive form `s'asseoir` is the usual everyday form.
to establish; to base; to secure
Often used with abstract nouns such as authority, reputation, a position, or a foundation.
Examples
J'assois le bébé sur le tapis avant de préparer son repas.
I seat the baby on the rug before preparing his meal.
Quand il se fatigue, j'assois mon fils sur le banc près de l'entrée.
When my son gets tired, I seat him on the bench near the entrance.
J'assois mon argument sur des données vérifiables.
I base my argument on verifiable data.
Grammar note
The verb asseoir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses; it can be transitive or pronominal.
verb
Meanings
to seat; to sit down
Can mean seating someone or sitting down oneself; the reflexive form `s'asseoir` is the usual everyday form.
to establish; to base; to secure
Often used with abstract nouns such as authority, reputation, a position, or a foundation.
Examples
Avant le spectacle, l'animatrice doit asseoir les enfants au premier rang.
Before the show, the host must seat the children in the front row.
Le médecin conseille d'asseoir le patient près de la fenêtre.
The doctor advises seating the patient near the window.
Cette réforme devrait asseoir durablement la confiance des citoyens.
This reform should firmly establish citizens' trust for the long term.
Grammar note
The verb asseoir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses; it can be transitive or pronominal.