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accorder
/a.kɔʁ.de/
to grant
Le gouvernement a accordé une subvention aux associations locales.
The government granted a subsidy to local associations.
formal
to grant or give (something requested)
Le professeur a accordé une semaine de délai pour rendre le devoir.
The teacher granted an extra week to submit the assignment.
Commonly used in administrative, legal, or formal contexts.
formal
to reconcile or bring into harmony
Ces deux couleurs s'accordent parfaitement.
These two colors go perfectly together.
Often used with colors, ideas, or abstract concepts.
technical
to tune (a musical instrument)
Il faut accorder le piano avant le concert.
We need to tune the piano before the concert.
Specific to music and instruments.
formal
to agree or correspond (with)
Ces deux témoignages n'accordent pas sur les détails.
These two testimonies do not agree on the details.
Used to indicate consistency or alignment between statements.
Collocations
accorder une faveurto grant a favoraccorder une interviewto grant an interviewaccorder du tempsto allocate times'accorder sur un pointto agree on a point
Pro Tip
Prepositions with 'accorder'
Use 'à' when granting something to someone (accorder qqch à qqn). Use 'sur' when agreeing on a topic (s'accorder sur un sujet).
Gold Rule
Transitive vs. Intransitive
'Accorder' is transitive when meaning 'to grant' (Il a accordé une pause). It is pronominal when meaning 'to agree' (Ils se sont accordés sur le prix).
Word Origin
From Old French *acorder*, from Latin *accordare* (to bring into agreement), from *ad-* (to) + *cor* (heart).
Usage Notes
The verb can be transitive (to grant) or pronominal (s'accorder, to agree). Pay attention to prepositions when used with 'sur' (to agree on) or 'avec' (to harmonize with).
Word Breakdown
ac-
to, toward
prefix-corder
heart, agreement
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais