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laisser
/lɛ.se/
to leave
Il a laissé son manteau dans la voiture.
He left his coat in the car.
general
To leave something or someone behind; to abandon or depart from a place.
Elle a laissé son sac sur la table.
She left her bag on the table.
Il a laissé son travail pour voyager.
He left his job to travel.
Often used with 'partir' or 'quitter' for emphasis.
general
To allow or permit something to happen.
Laissez-moi tranquille!
Leave me alone!
Il ne faut pas laisser les enfants seuls.
You shouldn't leave the children alone.
Can be used in the imperative form to give permission or make a request.
general
To let something remain in a certain state or condition.
Laissez la porte ouverte.
Leave the door open.
Il a laissé la lumière allumée.
He left the light on.
Often used with objects or states that are left unchanged.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Be careful with the past participle 'laissé', which is irregular and does not follow the standard -é ending for regular -er verbs.
Gold Rule
Imperative Form
In the imperative form, 'laisser' is often used to give permission or make a request, such as 'Laissez-moi tranquille!' (Leave me alone!).
Word Origin
From Old French 'laissier', from Latin 'laxare' meaning 'to loosen' or 'to let go'.
Usage Notes
The verb 'laisser' is often used with the preposition 'à' to indicate who or what is being left. For example, 'laisser à quelqu'un' means 'to leave something for someone'.
Word Breakdown
laiss-
to leave or let
root-er
infinitive verb ending
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais