servir/sɛʁ.viʁ/

Examples

• Elle aime servir les clients avec le sourire.

  She likes serving customers with a smile.

• Le chef va servir le dîner dans quelques minutes.

  The chef is going to serve dinner in a few minutes.

• Cette boîte peut servir à ranger les câbles.

  This box can be used to store cables.

• Nous pouvons servir cette table pour installer l'imprimante.

  We can use this table to set up the printer.

Collocations

• servir un clientto serve a customer
• servir à quelque choseto be used for something
• servir la balleto serve the ball

Common mistakes

• Nous servissons le dîner.

  Nous servons le dîner.

  Servir is an irregular -ir verb; its first-person plural present form is nous servons, not nous servissons.

Related words

• synonymaiderto help
• synonymutiliserto use

• antonymgâcherto waste

Grammar note

The verb servir can form compound tenses with either auxiliary avoir or être; it can be used transitively or intransitively, and can also be pronominal.

Examples

• En servant les clients, le serveur garde toujours le sourire.

  While serving customers, the waiter always keeps smiling.

• Cette petite table sert de bureau en servant aussi de rangement.

  This small table serves as a desk while also providing storage.

• Un chargeur portable peut être très utile en servant de batterie de secours.

  A portable charger can be very useful as a backup battery.

• En servant avec précision, elle a remporté le premier échange.

  By serving accurately, she won the first exchange.

Grammar note

The verb servir can form compound tenses with either auxiliary avoir or être; it can be used transitively or intransitively, and can also be pronominal.

Examples

• Le dîner a été servi dans la salle principale.

  Dinner was served in the main room.

• Ce petit local a servi de bureau pendant les travaux.

  This small room was used as an office during the renovations.

• Ce vieux sac a encore servi pour transporter les livres.

  This old bag came in handy again for carrying the books.

• Le joueur a servi très fort au début du match.

  The player served very powerfully at the start of the match.

Grammar note

The verb servir can form compound tenses with either auxiliary avoir or être; it can be used transitively or intransitively, and can also be pronominal.

Examples

• Tu sers les clients pendant que je prépare les boissons.

  You serve the customers while I prepare the drinks.

• Tu sers le dessert dès que les invités ont fini leur plat.

  You serve dessert as soon as the guests have finished their meal.

• Tu sers à quelque chose quand il faut réparer un ordinateur rapidement.

  You are useful when a computer needs to be repaired quickly.

• Tu sers très fort, mais tu dois encore travailler la précision.

  You serve very powerfully, but you still need to work on your accuracy.

Collocations

• servir un clientto serve a customer
• servir à quelque choseto be used for something
• servir la balleto serve the ball

Common mistakes

• Nous servissons le dîner.

  Nous servons le dîner.

  Servir is an irregular -ir verb; its first-person plural present form is nous servons, not nous servissons.

Related words

• synonymaiderto help
• synonymutiliserto use

• antonymgâcherto waste

Grammar note

The verb servir can form compound tenses with either auxiliary avoir or être; it can be used transitively or intransitively, and can also be pronominal.

Examples

• La serveuse sert le dîner aux clients de la terrasse.

  The waitress serves dinner to the customers on the terrace.

• Cette petite salle sert de bureau pendant les travaux.

  This small room is used as an office during the renovations.

• Ce tournevis sert encore malgré son manche abîmé.

  This screwdriver is still useful despite its damaged handle.

• Au prochain jeu, Paul sert en premier.

  Paul serves first in the next game.

Grammar note

The verb servir can form compound tenses with either auxiliary avoir or être; it can be used transitively or intransitively, and can also be pronominal.