engager 30 सेकंड में
- Primary meaning: To hire or employ someone (formal).
- Reflexive meaning: To commit oneself to a task or cause.
- Action meaning: To start or initiate (conversation, process, gear).
- Physical meaning: To enter a specific path or space (often with a vehicle).
The French verb engager is a versatile powerhouse in the French language, primarily recognized at the A2 level as the equivalent of 'to hire' or 'to employ.' However, its semantic reach extends far beyond the human resources department. At its core, engager signifies the act of putting something or someone into a specific process, commitment, or physical space. When you hire someone, you are 'engaging' them into a professional contract. When you start a conversation, you are 'engaging' the dialogue. Understanding this word requires looking at it as a catalyst for action or commitment.
- Professional Context
- To recruit or hire a new staff member (e.g., engager un secrétaire).
- Initiation
- To begin or start a process, such as a discussion or legal proceedings (e.g., engager des poursuites).
- Physical Movement
- To enter or move into a specific path or area (e.g., engager la voiture dans une ruelle).
'L'entreprise a décidé d'engager trois nouveaux ingénieurs pour le projet.' (The company decided to hire three new engineers for the project.)
Beyond the simple 'hiring' aspect, engager carries a weight of responsibility. In French law and ethics, engager sa responsabilité means to be held accountable for one's actions. This nuances the word with a sense of 'pledging' or 'binding.' If you 'engage' your word (engager sa parole), you are making a solemn promise. This level of commitment is what differentiates it from simple verbs like 'commencer' (to start) or 'donner' (to give).
'Il ne faut pas engager de frais inutiles avant d'avoir le budget.' (One must not incur/start unnecessary expenses before having the budget.)
In the reflexive form, s'engager, the meaning shifts toward personal commitment or physical entry. To 's'engager dans l'armée' is to join the army, while 's'engager à faire quelque chose' is to commit oneself to doing something. This is a vital distinction for learners moving toward B1 and B2 levels, where abstract commitments become more common in conversation and writing.
'Elle s'est engagée à terminer le rapport avant lundi.' (She committed herself to finishing the report before Monday.)
- Reflexive: Commitment
- To promise or bind oneself to a cause or action.
- Reflexive: Direction
- To turn into or enter a street or path.
'Le conducteur s'est engagé dans un sens interdit.' (The driver entered a one-way street the wrong way.)
'Nous devons engager la discussion sur ce sujet sensible.' (We must initiate the discussion on this sensitive subject.)
Using engager correctly involves understanding its transitivity and the prepositions that follow it. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object: engager quelqu'un (to hire someone) or engager quelque chose (to start something). The conjugation follows the standard -er pattern, but remember the spelling change in the nous form of the present tense (nous engageons) to keep the 'g' soft.
- Direct Object Usage
- J'engage un avocat. (I am hiring a lawyer.)
- Reflexive + Preposition 'à'
- Je m'engage à vous aider. (I commit to helping you.)
- Reflexive + Preposition 'dans'
- Il s'engage dans une nouvelle carrière. (He is embarking on a new career.)
In professional settings, engager is more formal than 'embaucher.' While 'embaucher' is specifically for hiring workers, engager can imply a broader sense of bringing someone into a project or even 'engaging' a consultant. If you are writing a CV or a formal letter, engager adds a layer of professional sophistication. It is also the standard term for 'engaging' gears in a vehicle (engager une vitesse).
'N'oubliez pas d'engager le frein à main.' (Don't forget to engage the handbrake.)
When discussing social issues, engager is often used to describe taking a stand. An 'écrivain engagé' is a socially or politically committed writer. This usage is very common in French literary and political discourse. It suggests that the person is not just a passive observer but has 'engaged' their identity and work in a cause.
'C'est à l'équipe de France d'engager.' (It is the French team's turn to kick off.)
You will encounter engager in a variety of environments, from the corporate office to the evening news. In a business context, it's the standard term for recruitment. You might hear a manager say, 'Nous devons engager du personnel saisonnier' (We need to hire seasonal staff). In legal or administrative contexts, it appears in phrases like 'engager des poursuites judiciaires' (to initiate legal proceedings).
- On the News
- 'Le gouvernement a décidé d'engager sa responsabilité sur ce texte.' (The government decided to stake its responsibility on this text - a specific French constitutional procedure.)
- In the Car
- 'Engage la deuxième vitesse.' (Shift into second gear.)
- In Literature
- 'Il s'engagea dans la forêt sombre.' (He entered/ventured into the dark forest.)
In everyday social interactions, you might hear 'engager la conversation.' If someone is shy, a friend might say, 'C'est difficile pour lui d'engager la conversation avec des inconnus.' This implies the initial effort of breaking the ice. It is also used in the context of 'engaging' someone's interest: 'Ce film n'a pas réussi à m'engager' (This movie didn't manage to engage/interest me).
'Le débat est engagé.' (The debate has begun/is underway.)
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is confusing engager with 'fiancer' (to get engaged for marriage). In French, if you say 'Je suis engagé,' it usually means 'I am busy,' 'I am committed to a cause,' or 'I have been hired.' It does not mean you are getting married. For marriage, you must use 'se fiancer.'
- False Friend Alert
- Engaged (to be married) = Fiancé(e). NOT engagé.
- Preposition Error
- Using 'de' instead of 'à' for commitments. Correct: S'engager à faire. Incorrect: S'engager de faire.
- Spelling
- Forgetting the 'e' in 'nous engageons'.
Another mistake is using engager when you simply mean 'to start' (commencer) in a general sense. While engager means to start, it is usually reserved for formal processes, conversations, or physical entries. You wouldn't 'engager' eating an apple; you would 'commencer' to eat it. Use engager when there is a sense of 'setting something in motion' or 'binding' something.
'J'ai engagé des frais.' (I have incurred expenses - correct usage of formal start.)
Several verbs share a semantic field with engager, but each has its own nuance. Embaucher is the most direct synonym for hiring, but it is strictly professional. Recruter is often used for large-scale hiring or military enlistment. Commencer and débuter are general terms for starting, whereas engager implies the initiation of a formal or complex process.
- Embaucher
- Specifically to hire an employee for a job.
- S'investir
- To invest oneself (emotionally or with time) into something, similar to 's'engager' but more about effort than a formal promise.
- Entamer
- To start something, often used for food, a discussion, or a period of time (e.g., entamer un gâteau, entamer une discussion).
'Nous allons entamer les négociations.' (We are going to open/start the negotiations.)
When it comes to physical entry, pénétrer or entrer are more common for simple movements. Engager is used when the entry involves a vehicle or a specific maneuver. For example, 'engager sa voiture dans un parking étroit' implies a careful, deliberate movement into a space.
How Formal Is It?
कठिनाई स्तर
ज़रूरी व्याकरण
Spelling changes in -ger verbs
Reflexive verb agreement in passé composé
Verbs followed by the preposition 'à'
Verbs followed by the preposition 'dans'
Passive voice with 'être' + past participle
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Le patron va engager un nouveau serveur.
The boss is going to hire a new waiter.
Future proche: aller + infinitive.
Ils engagent des ouvriers pour la maison.
They are hiring workers for the house.
Present tense, 3rd person plural.
Nous engageons la conversation avec les voisins.
We are starting a conversation with the neighbors.
Note the 'e' in 'engageons' to keep the soft 'g'.
Le joueur va engager le ballon.
The player is going to kick off the ball.
Sporting context.
Elle veut engager une secrétaire.
She wants to hire a secretary.
Vouloir + infinitive.
On engage qui pour ce travail ?
Who are we hiring for this job?
Informal 'on' used for 'we'.
N'engagez pas de frais maintenant.
Don't incur any expenses now.
Imperative negative.
L'école engage des professeurs.
The school is hiring teachers.
Simple subject-verb-object.
J'ai engagé un jardinier pour mon jardin.
I hired a gardener for my garden.
Passé composé with 'avoir'.
Il s'engage dans la rue principale.
He is turning into the main street.
Reflexive verb 's'engager' indicating movement.
Nous nous engageons à finir le projet.
We commit to finishing the project.
Reflexive 's'engager à' + infinitive.
Elle a engagé la discussion sur le climat.
She started the discussion about the climate.
Engager + noun (starting a process).
Le chauffeur engage la première vitesse.
The driver shifts into first gear.
Technical usage: engaging gears.
Ils se sont engagés dans une association.
They joined an association.
Passé composé of a reflexive verb (uses 'être').
Pouvez-vous engager cet avocat ?
Can you hire this lawyer?
Modal verb 'pouvoir' + infinitive.
L'armée engage de jeunes recrues.
The army is recruiting young recruits.
Formal context of hiring.
Le gouvernement engage de nouvelles réformes.
The government is initiating new reforms.
Engager used for formal processes.
Je m'engage à respecter les règles.
I pledge to respect the rules.
Formal commitment.
Il a engagé sa parole d'honneur.
He gave his word of honor.
Abstract usage: pledging something.
Elle s'est engagée dans un combat politique.
She got involved in a political struggle.
S'engager dans + noun (involvement).
Nous devons engager des poursuites contre lui.
We must initiate legal proceedings against him.
Legal terminology.
L'entreprise engage sa responsabilité civile.
The company is liable (engages its civil responsibility).
Legal/Professional responsibility.
Le film engage une réflexion sur la solitude.
The film prompts a reflection on loneliness.
Metaphorical initiation.
Ils ont engagé le combat à l'aube.
They initiated the fight at dawn.
Military/Historical context.
L'auteur est très engagé socialement.
The author is very socially committed.
Adjective 'engagé' meaning committed/activist.
Le Premier ministre a engagé la responsabilité du gouvernement.
The Prime Minister staked the government's responsibility.
Specific French political context (Article 49.3).
Il s'est engagé dans une voie sans issue.
He embarked on a dead-end path.
Idiomatic/Metaphorical use.
Les dépenses engagées dépassent le budget.
The expenses incurred exceed the budget.
Past participle used as an adjective (incurred).
Comment engager les jeunes dans le vote ?
How to engage young people in voting?
Engager + object + dans (involvement).
Elle a engagé le fer avec son adversaire.
She crossed swords with her opponent.
Idiomatic expression for starting a fight/debate.
Le processus de paix est enfin engagé.
The peace process is finally underway.
Passive sense: something has been started.
Il ne faut pas s'engager à la légère.
One should not commit lightly.
Adverbial phrase 'à la légère'.
Cette décision engage l'avenir de la nation.
This decision commits/affects the future of the nation.
High-level abstract consequence.
Il s'est engagé corps et âme dans cette cause.
He committed himself body and soul to this cause.
Idiomatic 'corps et âme'.
L'engrenage est engagé, on ne peut plus reculer.
The gears are in motion; there's no turning back.
Metaphorical use of mechanical terms.
Le ton engagé de son discours a surpris l'auditoire.
The committed/passionate tone of his speech surprised the audience.
Adjective usage for tone/style.
Il a dû engager ses bijoux pour payer ses dettes.
He had to pawn his jewelry to pay his debts.
Archaic/Specific meaning: to pledge/pawn.
La responsabilité pénale peut être engagée.
Criminal liability can be incurred.
Legal precision.
S'engager dans une analyse approfondie du texte.
To embark on a deep analysis of the text.
Academic context.
Elle a engagé une lutte acharnée pour ses droits.
She initiated a fierce struggle for her rights.
Strong collocations (lutte acharnée).
L'acte d'écrire est, en soi, un geste engagé.
The act of writing is, in itself, a committed gesture.
Philosophical/Existentialist context (Sartre).
Il s'agit d'engager un dialogue constructif par-delà les frontières.
It is about initiating a constructive dialogue across borders.
Diplomatic register.
Le navire s'est engagé dans le détroit par gros temps.
The ship entered the strait in heavy weather.
Nautical/Technical precision.
Cette clause engage les parties de manière irrévocable.
This clause binds the parties irrevocably.
Strict legal binding.
Engager le débat sur l'ontologie de l'être.
To initiate the debate on the ontology of being.
Highly academic/philosophical.
Elle a su engager les moyens nécessaires à la réussite.
She knew how to deploy the necessary means for success.
Using 'engager' as 'to deploy/allocate'.
Le destin s'est engagé sur une pente fatale.
Fate has started down a fatal slope.
Literary/Poetic usage.
On ne saurait engager autrui sans son consentement.
One cannot commit others without their consent.
Formal 'on ne saurait' + philosophical principle.
सामान्य शब्द संयोजन
सामान्य वाक्यांश
अक्सर इससे भ्रम होता है
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
Used for the act of starting social interactions.
Used for shifting gears or engaging brakes.
Highly common in HR and management.
- Using 'engager' for marriage engagement.
- Forgetting the 'e' in 'nous engageons'.
- Using 'engager de' instead of 'engager à'.
- Using 'engager' for simple actions like starting a book (use commencer).
- Confusing 'engagé' (committed) with 'occupé' (busy) in some contexts.
सुझाव
The 'E' Rule
Always remember the 'e' in 'nous engageons'. Without it, the 'g' would sound hard like 'gong'.
Business French
Use 'engager' in professional emails when discussing hiring to sound more sophisticated than 'prendre'.
Political Context
When you hear '49.3' on French news, 'engager' is the verb they use for the government's power move.
Ice Breaking
Use 'engager la conversation' when talking about your social skills or difficulties.
Manual Cars
If you drive a manual in France, you'll need to 'engager' the gears constantly.
Personal Pledges
Use 'Je m'engage à...' for serious New Year's resolutions or work promises.
Legal Action
The phrase 'engager des poursuites' is the standard way to say 'to sue' or 'prosecute'.
Marriage Trap
Never tell a French person 'Je suis engagé' to mean you have a fiancé; they will think you have a job.
Recruter vs Engager
Use 'recruter' for large groups (like the army) and 'engager' for specific roles.
Intellectual Use
In essays, use 'engager une réflexion' to sound more academic than 'penser à'.
याद करें
शब्द की उत्पत्ति
Old French 'engagier', from 'en-' + 'gage' (pledge/security).
सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ
Article 49.3 of the Constitution allows the government to 'engager sa responsabilité' to pass a law without a vote.
Existentialist literature focuses heavily on the choice to 's'engager' in the world.
असल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें
वास्तविक संदर्भ
बातचीत की शुरुआत
"Comment peut-on engager plus de jeunes dans la politique ?"
"Avez-vous déjà engagé un coach personnel ?"
"Est-il facile pour vous d'engager la conversation avec des étrangers ?"
"Dans quelle cause aimeriez-vous vous engager ?"
"L'entreprise va-t-elle engager de nouveaux employés cette année ?"
डायरी विषय
Décrivez un moment où vous vous êtes engagé à faire quelque chose de difficile.
Quelles sont les qualités d'un artiste engagé selon vous ?
Si vous deviez engager quelqu'un pour vous aider au quotidien, qui serait-ce ?
Réfléchissez à une situation où vous avez dû engager votre responsabilité.
Avez-vous déjà eu du mal à engager la conversation ? Racontez.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालNo, 'engager' means to hire or commit. To get engaged for marriage, use 'se fiancer'.
Both mean to hire, but 'embaucher' is specifically for employees, while 'engager' is broader and more formal.
It is 'nous engageons'. You must keep the 'e' to maintain the soft 'g' sound.
Yes, it is used for 'engaging' a gear (engager une vitesse) or entering a street.
It refers to an artist who is politically or socially committed to a cause through their work.
No, it is followed by 'à' before a verb, but 'dans' before a noun (e.g., s'engager dans l'armée).
It means to take responsibility for something or to be held legally accountable.
No, use 'commencer'. 'Engager' is for processes, conversations, or legal actions.
Yes, it follows the regular -er conjugation pattern, with the minor -ger spelling rule.
Depending on context, it could be 'licencier' (to fire) or 'désengager' (to withdraw).
खुद को परखो 180 सवाल
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Engager is more than just 'hiring'; it's about 'initiating a connection'—whether that's a professional contract, a personal commitment, a conversation, or even a mechanical gear in a car.
- Primary meaning: To hire or employ someone (formal).
- Reflexive meaning: To commit oneself to a task or cause.
- Action meaning: To start or initiate (conversation, process, gear).
- Physical meaning: To enter a specific path or space (often with a vehicle).
The 'E' Rule
Always remember the 'e' in 'nous engageons'. Without it, the 'g' would sound hard like 'gong'.
Business French
Use 'engager' in professional emails when discussing hiring to sound more sophisticated than 'prendre'.
Political Context
When you hear '49.3' on French news, 'engager' is the verb they use for the government's power move.
Ice Breaking
Use 'engager la conversation' when talking about your social skills or difficulties.
उदाहरण
In context, `engager` expresses: to hire.
संबंधित सामग्री
संबंधित ग्रामर रूल्स
संबंधित मुहावरे
false_friends के और शब्द
acheter
A2खरीदना: पैसे के बदले में सामान या सेवाएँ प्राप्त करना। उदाहरण के लिए, 'मैं ब्रेड खरीदता हूँ।' या 'वह कार खरीदती है।'
actuel
A2वर्तमान, मौजूदा; जो इस समय हो रहा है या मौजूद है।
actuellement
A2वर्तमान में, अभी।
affaire
A2एक मामला, व्यवसायिक सौदा या स्थिति।
ancien
A2पूर्व, पुराना, प्राचीन।
annoyer
A2किसी को परेशान करना या चिढ़ाना।
assister
A2किसी कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित होना।
attendre
A2इंतज़ार करना (किसी का या किसी चीज़ का)।
audience
A2अदालत की सुनवाई जहां न्यायाधीश पक्षों को सुनते हैं। किसी उच्च अधिकारी द्वारा दी गई औपचारिक मुलाकात। किसी टीवी या रेडियो कार्यक्रम की दर्शकों या श्रोताओं की संख्या (रेटिंग)।
avertir
A2किसी को चेतावनी देना या सूचित करना।
