jouer/ʒwe/
verb · A1 · Frequency 233
verb
Meanings
to play; to take part in games or sports
Common in jouer a + game or sport.
to play an instrument
Typically used in jouer de + instrument.
to play a role; to act as
Common in jouer un role / jouer le role de...
to gamble; to bet
Used for betting or gambling with money or stakes.
to be settled; to be decided
Often appears in fixed expressions such as le sort est joue.
to matter; to have an effect; to come into play
Used when something matters or has an effect in a situation.
to exploit; to toy with; to make fun of
Common in jouer avec / jouer de + person or thing, meaning to exploit, toy with, or mock.
Examples
Les enfants aiment jouer dans le jardin après le goûter.
The children like to play in the garden after their snack.
Elle veut jouer du violon dans l'orchestre de son école.
She wants to play the violin in her school orchestra.
Il rêve de jouer le rôle principal au théâtre.
He dreams of playing the leading role in the theater.
Il est imprudent de jouer de grosses sommes au casino.
It is unwise to gamble large sums of money at the casino.
Collocations
- jouer au footballto play football
- jouer du pianoto play the piano
- jouer un rôleto play a role
Common mistakes
Je joues au tennis.
Je joue au tennis.
In the present tense, the first-person singular of the -er verb jouer ends in -e, not -es; therefore it is joue.
Related words
synonyminterpréterto perform, to act
synonymparierto bet, to gamble
- antonymperdreto lose
Grammar note
The verb jouer uses avoir as auxiliary in compound tenses. As an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to play; to take part in games or sports
Common in jouer a + game or sport.
to play an instrument
Typically used in jouer de + instrument.
to play a role; to act as
Common in jouer un role / jouer le role de...
to gamble; to bet
Used for betting or gambling with money or stakes.
to be settled; to be decided
Often appears in fixed expressions such as le sort est joue.
to matter; to have an effect; to come into play
Used when something matters or has an effect in a situation.
to exploit; to toy with; to make fun of
Common in jouer avec / jouer de + person or thing, meaning to exploit, toy with, or mock.
Examples
En jouant au ballon dans le jardin, les enfants ont ri toute l'après-midi.
While playing ball in the garden, the children laughed all afternoon.
Jouant aux échecs chaque dimanche, il a beaucoup progressé.
By playing chess every Sunday, he improved a lot.
Jouant du violon dans le métro, elle a attiré l'attention des passants.
Playing the violin in the subway, she attracted the passersby's attention.
Jouant le rôle principal, il a dû apprendre beaucoup de répliques.
Playing the lead role, he had to learn many lines.
Grammar note
The verb jouer uses avoir as auxiliary in compound tenses. As an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to play; to take part in games or sports
Common in jouer a + game or sport.
to play an instrument
Typically used in jouer de + instrument.
to play a role; to act as
Common in jouer un role / jouer le role de...
to gamble; to bet
Used for betting or gambling with money or stakes.
to be settled; to be decided
Often appears in fixed expressions such as le sort est joue.
to matter; to have an effect; to come into play
Used when something matters or has an effect in a situation.
to exploit; to toy with; to make fun of
Common in jouer avec / jouer de + person or thing, meaning to exploit, toy with, or mock.
Examples
Les enfants ont joué dans le jardin après le goûter.
The children played in the garden after their snack.
La pianiste a joué une sonate devant le public.
The pianist played a sonata in front of the audience.
L'actrice a joué le rôle d'une médecin dans ce film.
The actress played the role of a doctor in that film.
Il a joué dix euros sur le cheval favori.
He bet ten euros on the favorite horse.
Collocations
- jouer au footballto play football
- jouer du pianoto play the piano
- jouer un rôleto play a role
Common mistakes
Je joues au tennis.
Je joue au tennis.
In the present tense, the first-person singular of the -er verb jouer ends in -e, not -es; therefore it is joue.
Related words
synonyminterpréterto perform, to act
synonymparierto bet, to gamble
- antonymperdreto lose
Grammar note
The verb jouer uses avoir as auxiliary in compound tenses. As an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to play; to take part in games or sports
Common in jouer a + game or sport.
to play an instrument
Typically used in jouer de + instrument.
to play a role; to act as
Common in jouer un role / jouer le role de...
to gamble; to bet
Used for betting or gambling with money or stakes.
to be settled; to be decided
Often appears in fixed expressions such as le sort est joue.
to matter; to have an effect; to come into play
Used when something matters or has an effect in a situation.
to exploit; to toy with; to make fun of
Common in jouer avec / jouer de + person or thing, meaning to exploit, toy with, or mock.
Examples
Le samedi, elle joue au tennis avec ses collègues.
On Saturdays, she plays tennis with her colleagues.
Chaque soir, il joue du violon pendant une heure.
Every evening, he plays the violin for an hour.
Elle joue le rôle d'une médecin dans cette série.
She plays the role of a doctor in this series.
Il joue gros sur cette dernière carte.
He is betting heavily on this last card.
Grammar note
The verb jouer uses avoir as auxiliary in compound tenses. As an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to play; to take part in games or sports
Common in jouer a + game or sport.
to play an instrument
Typically used in jouer de + instrument.
to play a role; to act as
Common in jouer un role / jouer le role de...
to gamble; to bet
Used for betting or gambling with money or stakes.
to be settled; to be decided
Often appears in fixed expressions such as le sort est joue.
to matter; to have an effect; to come into play
Used when something matters or has an effect in a situation.
to exploit; to toy with; to make fun of
Common in jouer avec / jouer de + person or thing, meaning to exploit, toy with, or mock.
Examples
Tu joues au tennis tous les samedis matin.
You play tennis every Saturday morning.
Tu joues à un jeu de société avec tes cousins.
You play a board game with your cousins.
Tu joues du piano depuis l'âge de six ans.
You have played the piano since you were six.
Tu joues le rôle d'un journaliste dans la pièce.
You play the role of a journalist in the play.
Grammar note
The verb jouer uses avoir as auxiliary in compound tenses. As an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.