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A2 noun #3,000 most common 10 min read

accroître

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips accroître in 30 Seconds
Explanation accroître in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'accroître' might seem a bit advanced, but you can understand it as a fancy way to say 'make more' or 'go up.' Think of it like the word 'plus.' When you see 'accroître,' just imagine something getting bigger or there being more of it. You won't need to use it in your own speaking yet, as 'augmenter' or 'plus de' is much easier. Just remember that it starts with 'acc-' like 'accumulate,' which also means to get more of something. If you see it in a simple sentence like 'Accroître le vocabulaire,' it just means 'to get more words.' It is a verb that describes an action of growth. Don't worry about the hard conjugation for now, just focus on the meaning: more, bigger, better.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to see more formal French in news snippets or work-related texts. 'Accroître' is a word you will encounter when reading about the economy or business. It means 'to increase.' You can use it to sound more professional. For example, instead of saying 'Je veux plus de clients,' you could say 'Je veux accroître le nombre de clients.' This makes you sound more serious. It is often used with words like 'production,' 'sécurité,' or 'efforts.' Remember that it is an irregular verb, so it doesn't end in -er. It's good to recognize the reflexive form 's'accroître,' which means something is increasing by itself, like 'Le stress s'accroît' (The stress is growing).
At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'accroître' in your writing to vary your vocabulary. It's a great substitute for 'augmenter' when you are writing formal emails or essays. You should understand the difference in register: 'augmenter' is for everyday things, while 'accroître' is for more significant, often abstract, growth. You should also be comfortable with the passé composé: 'Le gouvernement a accru les impôts.' Note that the past participle is 'accru.' You can use it to talk about improving your skills ('accroître ses compétences') or increasing your chances of success. It's a key word for discussing social and economic trends in your intermediate-level discussions.
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At the B2 level, you need to master the nuances of 'accroître.' You should know that it often implies a gradual or systematic increase. You should be able to use it in complex sentences and understand its reflexive use in scientific or sociological contexts: 'Les inégalités s'accroissent dans la société moderne.' You should also be aware of the noun 'accroissement.' At this level, you should also be able to conjugate it correctly in most tenses, including the future ('nous accroîtrons') and the conditional ('cela accroîtrait'). You should recognize it in literary texts and formal speeches, where it is used to give weight to an argument. It's about precision: choosing 'accroître' over 'augmenter' shows a high command of French registers.
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At the C1 level, 'accroître' should be a natural part of your high-level vocabulary. You should use it to express subtle differences in growth and development. You might use it in legal, philosophical, or high-level business contexts. You should be familiar with the traditional vs. modern spelling (the circumflex accent). You should also be able to use the past participle 'accru' as an adjective: 'un intérêt accru' (an increased interest). Your ability to use 'accroître' reflexively to describe abstract phenomena ('le sentiment d'insécurité s'est accru') should be flawless. You understand that 'accroître' can also mean 'to enhance' or 'to enrich' in a qualitative sense, not just quantitative.
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At the C2 level, you have a complete grasp of 'accroître' and its place in the history of the French language. You can use it in highly sophisticated rhetorical ways. You understand its relationship to the verb 'croître' and how the prefix 'ac-' changes the dynamic of the word. You can use it in literary analysis or complex socio-economic debates without hesitation. You are aware of its rare or archaic uses in classical literature. You can perfectly balance its use with other synonyms like 'décupler,' 'amplifier,' or 'exacerber' to create precise stylistic effects. For you, 'accroître' is not just a verb, but a tool for fine-tuning the intensity and formality of your discourse.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

accroître in 30 Seconds

  • Accroître is a formal French verb meaning 'to increase' or 'to enhance.'
  • It is commonly used in business, news, and academic contexts for growth.
  • The verb is irregular and belongs to the third conjugation group.
  • It can be used reflexively (s'accroître) to mean 'to grow' or 'to mount up.'

The French verb accroître is a sophisticated and formal term that translates primarily to 'to increase,' 'to augment,' or 'to enhance.' While learners often rely on the more common verb augmenter, mastering accroître allows a speaker to navigate professional, academic, and literary environments with greater precision. It describes the process of making something larger in amount, intensity, or size, often implying a gradual or systematic development rather than a sudden spike. In many contexts, it is used to discuss economic growth, the expansion of knowledge, or the strengthening of a reputation. When used reflexively as s'accroître, it describes things that grow or increase on their own, such as tensions, wealth, or populations.

Economic Context
In business circles, managers speak of accroître la productivité (increasing productivity) or accroître les bénéfices (increasing profits). It carries a connotation of strategic improvement.

L'entreprise cherche activement à accroître sa part de marché en Europe cette année.

Furthermore, the word is frequently found in legal and administrative documents. It is less likely to be heard in a casual conversation about the price of bread (where augmenter is preferred) and more likely to be found in a report regarding national debt or demographic shifts. The nuance of accroître suggests a certain 'building up' or 'accumulation' over time. For example, one might accroître ses connaissances (increase one's knowledge) through years of study. This implies a steady, enriching process. In the reflexive form, it is very common to say les difficultés s'accroissent, meaning the difficulties are mounting or growing by themselves.

Intellectual Development
Teachers encourage students to read more to accroître leur vocabulaire. Here, it signifies the enrichment and expansion of mental resources.

Cette nouvelle loi va accroître les pouvoirs du président de façon significative.

In summary, use this word when you want to sound professional or when you are describing a process of growth that is meaningful and substantial. It is the 'level up' version of 'augmenter'. It is also used to describe the enhancement of abstract qualities like prestige, influence, or visibility. If you are writing a CV or a formal letter, replacing 'augmenter' with 'accroître' can immediately elevate the register of your French.

Social Influence
A public figure might use social media to accroître sa visibilité auprès des jeunes électeurs.

Il est essentiel d' accroître les investissements dans les énergies renouvelables.

Le bruit ne fait qu' accroître mon mal de tête déjà insupportable.

Using accroître correctly requires an understanding of its transitive and reflexive forms. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object. You increase 'something'. This 'something' is typically a noun representing a quantity, a feeling, or a capacity. For example, accroître la sécurité (to increase security) or accroître la pression (to increase pressure). The sentence structure is straightforward: Subject + Conjugated Verb + Direct Object.

Direct Object Usage
Nous devons accroître nos efforts pour finir ce projet à temps. (We must increase our efforts...)

L'irrigation permet d' accroître le rendement des terres agricoles.

When used reflexively, s'accroître, the subject is the thing that is growing. This is common in scientific or statistical observations. For instance, la population s'accroît (the population is increasing). Note that in compound tenses like the passé composé, reflexive verbs always use the auxiliary être. For example: Les tensions se sont accrues (Tensions have increased). Pay attention to the past participle accru, which agrees with the subject in reflexive constructions.

Reflexive Form (Pronominal)
Le risque de conflit s'accroît de jour en jour dans cette région du monde.

In negative sentences, the structure follows standard French rules: ne... pas surrounds the conjugated verb. For example: Cela n'accroît pas nos chances de succès (That does not increase our chances of success). When using it with modal verbs like pouvoir, vouloir, or devoir, accroître remains in the infinitive form. This is very common in planning: Nous voulons accroître notre présence en ligne.

With Modals
Vous pouvez accroître la taille de la police dans les paramètres du logiciel.

Le gouvernement a décidé d' accroître les taxes sur le tabac.

Sa fortune s'accroît grâce à des investissements judicieux en bourse.

Il faut accroître le nombre de places dans les crèches municipales.

You will encounter accroître most frequently in the French media, particularly in news broadcasts and newspapers like Le Monde or Le Figaro. It is a staple of economic journalism. When a journalist discusses the 'PIB' (GDP) or 'le chômage' (unemployment), they will often use accroître or its noun form l'accroissement to describe trends. It sounds authoritative and objective, which is why it is preferred over the more 'daily life' word augmenter in these contexts.

News & Media
'La Banque Centrale a décidé d' accroître les taux d'intérêt pour lutter contre l'inflation.'

Les experts prévoient que la demande d'énergie va s' accroître durant l'hiver.

In the corporate world, this word is everywhere. During annual general meetings or in company reports, CEOs use it to talk about their vision. They don't just want to 'grow' the company; they want to accroître la valeur actionnariale (increase shareholder value). It is also used in HR contexts when discussing accroître les compétences (enhancing skills) through training programs. If you are listening to a podcast about business or personal development in French, expect to hear this word frequently.

Corporate Environment
Notre objectif est d' accroître la satisfaction client de dix pour cent d'ici la fin du trimestre.

Politics is another major arena for this verb. Politicians promise to accroître le pouvoir d'achat (increase purchasing power) or accroître la sécurité dans les rues. In these cases, the word is chosen for its positive, constructive connotations. It sounds like progress. Conversely, in academic writing, researchers use it to describe the relationship between variables: 'L'augmentation de X contribue à accroître Y'. It is a versatile tool for anyone needing to describe upward trends with a touch of formality.

Political Discourse
Le candidat s'engage à accroître le budget de l'éducation nationale s'il est élu.

Cette découverte scientifique va accroître notre compréhension de l'univers.

Le festival espère accroître sa fréquentation internationale cette année.

The most frequent mistake learners make with accroître is related to its conjugation. Because it is an irregular verb of the third group, it doesn't follow the simple patterns of -er verbs. Many students try to conjugate it like finir, which is incorrect. Another common error is the placement or omission of the circumflex accent. In traditional spelling, the 'i' takes a circumflex before a 't' (e.g., il accroît), but not in the plural forms (e.g., nous accroissons). However, the 1990 spelling reform allows for the removal of the circumflex in many cases, which can be confusing for learners seeing different versions in different books.

Spelling & Accents
Incorrect: Il accroit (Traditional) vs. Correct: Il accroît. Note: Modern spelling accepts both, but consistency is key.

Attention : ne confondez pas accroître avec le verbe 'croire' (to believe).

Another mistake is using accroître in contexts that are too informal. If you are talking to a friend about your salary or the number of followers you have on social media, using accroître might sound a bit 'stiff' or pretentious. In these cases, augmenter is much more natural. Conversely, using augmenter in a very formal academic thesis where accroître is expected might make the writing seem slightly less sophisticated. It's a matter of 'registre' (register).

Register Errors
Too formal: 'Je vais accroître ma collection de timbres.' Better: 'Je vais augmenter ma collection...'

Learners also struggle with the past participle accru. Because it looks different from the infinitive, they sometimes fail to recognize it or they forget to agree it when using the reflexive form. For example, in les richesses se sont accrues, the 'es' at the end of accrues is mandatory because richesses is feminine plural. Finally, don't confuse accroître with accourir (to run towards) or accrocher (to hang up). They sound somewhat similar to a beginner's ear but have completely different meanings.

False Friends/Similar Sounds
Accroître (Increase) vs. Accrocher (Hang/Hook). They are not related!

La confusion entre 'augmenter' et accroître est fréquente mais rarement grave pour la compréhension.

N'oubliez pas l'accord du participe passé dans : 'Les tensions se sont accrues'.

French offers several synonyms for accroître, each with its own specific nuance and level of formality. The most direct alternative is augmenter. While augmenter is versatile and used in almost any situation, accroître is more formal and often implies a more substantial or qualitative change. If you are talking about prices or numbers in a casual way, use augmenter. If you are talking about power, wealth, or influence in a formal way, accroître is your best bet.

Accroître vs. Augmenter
Augmenter: General, common, can be sudden.
Accroître: Formal, strategic, often implies gradual accumulation.

On peut accroître son capital, mais on augmente le volume de la radio.

Another synonym is intensifier. This specifically refers to making something more intense or stronger, such as efforts, a search, or a feeling. While accroître focuses on the 'amount' or 'size', intensifier focuses on the 'strength'. Then there is développer. This is used when the increase involves growth in complexity or maturity, like developing a business or an idea. Accroître is more about the scale than the structure.

Other Alternatives
Amplifier: To make something louder or more widespread (like a sound or a phenomenon).
Élargir: To make something wider (like a search area or a circle of friends).

For the opposite of accroître, you have several options depending on the context. The most common antonym is diminuer (to decrease). For more formal contexts, you might use réduire (to reduce) or amoindrir (to lessen/weaken). Amoindrir is particularly close to accroître in terms of its formal register and is often used for abstract things like reputation or strength. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the perfect word for your specific meaning.

Antonyms Comparison
Diminuer: General decrease.
Amoindrir: To make something less (often formal/abstract).

Il faut accroître les ressources et non les réduire.

L'objectif est d' accroître l'efficacité tout en diminuant les coûts.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The circumflex accent on the 'î' in 'accroître' is a ghost of the 's' that used to be in the Latin 'accrescere'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.kʁwatʁ/
US /ɑ.kʁwɑtʁ/
The stress in French is usually on the final syllable of the word or phrase.
Rhymes With
boire croître paraître naître connaître disparaître reconnaître comparaître
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the 't' at the end too loudly.
  • Confusing the 'oi' sound with 'oy' in English.
  • Failing to produce the French guttural 'r'.
  • Confusing it with 'accourir'.
  • Pronouncing it like 'accroche'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in newspapers but requires knowing the root.

Writing 4/5

Irregular conjugation can be tricky for learners.

Speaking 4/5

Sounds very formal; needs to be used in the right context.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation but can be confused with similar words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

augmenter grandir plus faire nombre

Learn Next

décroître croissance accroissement intensifier amplifier

Advanced

pérenniser optimiser maximiser fructifier proliférer

Grammar to Know

Third Group Irregular Verbs

Accroître follows the pattern of croître but with specific accent rules.

Reflexive Verbs in Passé Composé

Les tensions se sont accrues (Agreement with subject).

Circumflex Accent

Traditionally used on the 'î' before a 't' in the singular present.

Transitive vs Intransitive

Accroître needs an object; s'accroître does not.

Modal + Infinitive

Je veux accroître mon niveau.

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Examples by Level

1

Il veut accroître son vocabulaire.

He wants to increase his vocabulary.

Infinitive after 'veut'.

2

Nous devons accroître les efforts.

We must increase the efforts.

Direct object 'les efforts'.

3

Le but est d'accroître la vitesse.

The goal is to increase the speed.

Infinitive with 'de'.

4

Elle veut accroître sa collection.

She wants to increase her collection.

Possessive 'sa'.

5

Accroître la production est important.

Increasing production is important.

Verb as subject.

6

Tu peux accroître la taille de l'image.

You can increase the size of the image.

Modal verb 'peux'.

7

Ils vont accroître le nombre de places.

They are going to increase the number of seats.

Futur proche.

8

L'école veut accroître l'espace de jeux.

The school wants to increase the play area.

Noun phrase object.

1

L'entreprise veut accroître ses ventes.

The company wants to increase its sales.

Business context.

2

Le bruit fait accroître mon stress.

The noise increases my stress.

Causative structure.

3

Ils cherchent à accroître la sécurité.

They are looking to increase security.

Verb 'chercher à'.

4

La pluie va accroître le niveau de l'eau.

The rain will increase the water level.

Natural phenomenon.

5

Vous devez accroître votre attention.

You must increase your attention.

Formal 'vous'.

6

Le sport peut accroître votre force.

Sport can increase your strength.

Physical quality.

7

Le chef veut accroître la qualité du plat.

The chef wants to increase the quality of the dish.

Qualitative increase.

8

Il faut accroître la visibilité du site.

We must increase the site's visibility.

Impersonal 'il faut'.

1

Cette formation va accroître vos compétences.

This training will enhance your skills.

Professional development.

2

Le gouvernement a accru les taxes.

The government increased the taxes.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

3

La population s'accroît rapidement.

The population is increasing rapidly.

Reflexive 's'accroître'.

4

L'investissement va accroître la rentabilité.

The investment will increase profitability.

Economic term.

5

Il souhaite accroître son influence.

He wishes to increase his influence.

Abstract noun.

6

Les tensions se sont accrues hier.

Tensions increased yesterday.

Passé composé (reflexive).

7

Nous accroissons notre budget chaque année.

We increase our budget every year.

Present tense (irregular).

8

Cela ne fera qu'accroître les problèmes.

That will only increase the problems.

Negative 'ne... que'.

1

Les nouvelles mesures vont accroître l'efficacité.

The new measures will increase efficiency.

Formal register.

2

Le risque s'accroît avec le temps.

The risk increases with time.

Reflexive present.

3

L'auteur cherche à accroître le suspense.

The author seeks to increase the suspense.

Literary context.

4

Ils ont réussi à accroître leur autonomie.

They succeeded in increasing their autonomy.

Abstract concept.

5

La demande s'est accrue de façon imprévue.

Demand increased in an unforeseen way.

Adverbial phrase.

6

Cette réforme va accroître les inégalités.

This reform will increase inequalities.

Social context.

7

Nous devons accroître la coopération internationale.

We must increase international cooperation.

Diplomatic context.

8

Le bruit ne fait qu'accroître sa colère.

The noise only increases his anger.

Emotional state.

1

L'intérêt pour ce sujet s'est accru récemment.

Interest in this subject has increased recently.

Reflexive passé composé.

2

Il convient d'accroître la vigilance.

It is advisable to increase vigilance.

Formal 'il convient de'.

3

La complexité du projet ne cesse d'accroître.

The complexity of the project never stops increasing.

Verb 'cesser de'.

4

Cela pourrait accroître le fossé entre les classes.

That could increase the gap between classes.

Conditional mood.

5

L'innovation permet d'accroître la compétitivité.

Innovation allows for increased competitiveness.

Economic theory.

6

Ses responsabilités se sont accrues cet été.

His responsibilities increased this summer.

Agreement of 'accrues'.

7

Le but est d'accroître le rayonnement culturel.

The goal is to increase cultural influence.

Sophisticated noun.

8

L'usage de la force ne ferait qu'accroître la haine.

The use of force would only increase hatred.

Conditional 'ferait'.

1

L'accroissement des richesses ne profite pas à tous.

The increase in wealth does not benefit everyone.

Noun form 'accroissement'.

2

L'incertitude ne fait qu'accroître le malaise social.

Uncertainty only increases social unease.

Abstract sociopolitical terms.

3

Il importe d'accroître la résilience du système.

It is important to increase the system's resilience.

Formal 'il importe de'.

4

Le désir s'accroît quand l'effet se recule.

Desire increases when the effect recedes (Corneille quote).

Literary/Classical usage.

5

Les enjeux se sont accrus au fil des négociations.

The stakes increased throughout the negotiations.

Idiomatic 'au fil de'.

6

Cette découverte va accroître le prestige de l'université.

This discovery will increase the university's prestige.

Institutional context.

7

L'entreprise a su accroître sa pérennité.

The company managed to increase its longevity.

Sophisticated 'savoir' usage.

8

Tout concourt à accroître sa renommée.

Everything contributes to increasing his fame.

Verb 'concourir à'.

Common Collocations

accroître la productivité
accroître les bénéfices
accroître les connaissances
accroître la sécurité
accroître la visibilité
accroître la pression
accroître les efforts
accroître le rendement
accroître les chances
accroître le pouvoir

Common Phrases

ne faire qu'accroître

— To only serve to increase a negative situation.

Ses mensonges ne font qu'accroître ma méfiance.

viser à accroître

— To aim at increasing something.

Ce projet vise à accroître l'emploi.

contribuer à accroître

— To help in increasing something.

Le soleil contribue à accroître la température.

chercher à accroître

— To seek to increase.

Il cherche à accroître sa fortune.

permettre d'accroître

— To allow for an increase.

Ce logiciel permet d'accroître l'efficacité.

tendre à s'accroître

— To have a tendency to increase.

Les besoins tendent à s'accroître.

fortement s'accroître

— To increase significantly.

La demande s'est fortement accrue.

cesser d'accroître

— To stop increasing.

Le bruit a cessé d'accroître.

continuer d'accroître

— To continue to increase.

L'inflation continue d'accroître les prix.

aider à accroître

— To help increase.

Cette aide va aider à accroître la paix.

Often Confused With

accroître vs accourir

Means to run towards someone or something. Sounds similar but unrelated.

accroître vs accrocher

Means to hang or hook something. Often confused by beginners.

accroître vs croire

Means to believe. The spelling of 'accroît' can look like 'croit'.

Idioms & Expressions

"accroître son capital sympathie"

— To become more popular or well-liked by people.

Le politicien a accru son capital sympathie.

Journalistic
"accroître la voilure"

— To increase the scale of operations (metaphor from sailing).

L'entreprise décide d'accroître la voilure à l'export.

Business
"accroître le fossé"

— To make a division or difference even larger.

Cette décision va accroître le fossé entre riches et pauvres.

Political
"accroître la mise"

— To increase the stakes or investment.

Il a décidé d'accroître la mise dans ce projet risqué.

General
"accroître ses arrières"

— To increase one's security or fallback options.

Il épargne pour accroître ses arrières.

Informal
"accroître le feu"

— To intensify a situation or conflict.

Ses critiques ne font qu'accroître le feu de la dispute.

Literary
"accroître son emprise"

— To increase one's hold or control over something.

Le groupe cherche à accroître son emprise sur le marché.

Formal
"accroître le champ des possibles"

— To increase the range of opportunities or possibilities.

L'éducation permet d'accroître le champ des possibles.

Philosophical
"accroître sa renommée"

— To become more famous.

Ce film a accru sa renommée mondiale.

Formal
"accroître les tensions"

— To make a situation more strained.

Le refus de négocier va accroître les tensions.

Political

Easily Confused

accroître vs Augmenter

Both mean 'to increase'.

Augmenter is general and common; accroître is formal and often abstract.

Augmenter le son vs Accroître son influence.

accroître vs Grandir

Both imply growth.

Grandir is for living things getting taller; accroître is for quantities or values.

L'enfant grandit vs L'entreprise accroît son chiffre d'affaires.

accroître vs Croître

They share the same root.

Croître is intransitive (to grow); accroître is usually transitive (to make grow).

La plante croît vs Le jardinier accroît la taille du jardin.

accroître vs Améliorer

Both are positive changes.

Améliorer means to make better; accroître means to make bigger/more.

Améliorer sa santé vs Accroître sa force.

accroître vs Élargir

Both mean expansion.

Élargir means to make wider; accroître means to increase in any dimension.

Élargir une route vs Accroître un budget.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Je veux accroître [noun].

Je veux accroître mon vocabulaire.

A2

Il faut accroître [noun].

Il faut accroître la sécurité.

B1

Cela va accroître [noun].

Cela va accroître nos chances.

B2

Le/La [noun] s'accroît.

La pression s'accroît.

C1

Dans le but d'accroître [noun]...

Dans le but d'accroître l'efficacité...

C1

Il importe d'accroître [noun].

Il importe d'accroître la vigilance.

C2

Ne faire qu'accroître [noun].

Cela ne fait qu'accroître mon mépris.

C2

S'être accru(e) de façon [adjective].

La demande s'est accrue de façon exponentielle.

Word Family

Nouns

accroissement (increase)
crue (flood/rising)

Verbs

croître (to grow)
décroître (to decrease)
recroître (to grow again)

Adjectives

accru (increased)
croissant (growing)

Related

croissance
recrudescence
incrément
augmentation
plus-value
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How to Use It

frequency

Common in professional and written French; less common in daily street slang.

Common Mistakes
  • Using 'accroître' for physical height. → Using 'grandir'.

    Accroître is for quantities and abstract values, not for people getting taller.

  • Conjugating it as a regular -er verb. → Using the irregular third-group forms.

    It is not 'accroîter', but 'accroître'.

  • Forgetting the 's' in plural forms. → Nous accroissons, vous accroissez.

    The 'ss' appears in plural present forms, similar to 'finir' but the verb is still third group.

  • Confusing it with 'croire' (to believe). → Checking the context of growth vs. thought.

    Il croit (he believes) vs. Il accroît (he increases).

  • Using it in very casual settings. → Using 'augmenter'.

    Using 'accroître' to talk about the volume of your TV sounds weirdly formal.

Tips

Use in CVs

When writing your French CV, use 'accroître' to describe how you increased sales or efficiency. It sounds much more professional than 'augmenter'.

The Root 'Croître'

If you know how to conjugate 'croître' (to grow), you already know how to conjugate 'accroître'. Just add the 'ac-' prefix.

Business French

In a business meeting, always prefer 'accroître' when talking about strategic goals like 'accroître notre présence sur le marché'.

Reflexive Agreement

In the reflexive form 's'accroître', don't forget to agree the past participle with the subject. 'La tension s'est accrue' (feminine singular).

Variety

If you have already used 'augmenter' in a paragraph, switch to 'accroître' to show off your vocabulary range.

The 'oi' sound

Make sure the 'oi' sounds like 'wa'. A common mistake is making it sound like 'oy' as in 'boy'.

Spelling Reform

Don't be confused if you see 'accroitre' without the accent; it is part of the 1990 spelling reform, though many still use the traditional version.

Accumulate

Think of 'acc' as 'accumulate' to remember that 'accroître' is about building something up.

News keywords

Listen for 'accroître' during the 'Économie' segment of French news; it is one of their most used verbs.

Literature

In classical literature, 'accroître' is often used to describe the growth of passions or empires.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ACC-rue' like 'ACC-umulate' + 'GROW'. When you accroître, you accumulate growth.

Visual Association

Imagine a bar chart where the bars are slowly but steadily climbing higher into the clouds.

Word Web

Growth Wealth Power Knowledge Security Scale Business Formal

Challenge

Try to use 'accroître' in a sentence about your own hobbies today. For example, 'I want to accroître my guitar skills.'

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'accreistre', which comes from the Latin 'accrescere'. The Latin root is 'ad-' (to) + 'crescere' (to grow).

Original meaning: To grow towards or to add to something by growth.

Romance (Latin-based).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, formal term.

English speakers often use 'increase' for everything. French speakers use 'accroître' to signal they are speaking formally or about serious topics.

Jean Racine used 'accroître' in his classical tragedies. Economic reports from the INSEE frequently use 'accroissement'. Legal codes in France use 'accroître' for property rights.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Business

  • accroître les ventes
  • accroître la productivité
  • accroître les parts de marché
  • accroître le capital

Education

  • accroître ses connaissances
  • accroître son vocabulaire
  • accroître ses compétences
  • accroître sa culture

Politics

  • accroître le pouvoir d'achat
  • accroître la sécurité
  • accroître l'influence
  • accroître les budgets

Science

  • accroître la précision
  • accroître la température
  • accroître la pression
  • accroître la vitesse

Personal Life

  • accroître sa patience
  • accroître ses efforts
  • accroître son attention
  • accroître sa visibilité

Conversation Starters

"Comment pouvons-nous accroître l'efficacité de notre équipe ?"

"Pensez-vous qu'il soit possible d'accroître le bonheur ?"

"Quelles mesures faut-il prendre pour accroître la sécurité ?"

"Est-ce que lire aide vraiment à accroître l'intelligence ?"

"Comment accroître sa confiance en soi avant un examen ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une compétence que vous aimeriez accroître cette année.

Comment l'usage de la technologie peut-il accroître notre stress ?

Réfléchissez à une situation où vous avez dû accroître vos efforts.

Est-ce que l'argent contribue toujours à accroître la liberté ?

Comment une ville peut-elle accroître son attractivité touristique ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'accroître' is significantly more formal. It is preferred in professional, academic, and literary contexts, whereas 'augmenter' is used in everyday conversation for things like prices or volume.

In traditional spelling, yes, on the 'î' in the infinitive and the third-person singular present (il accroît). However, since the 1990 spelling reform, the accent can often be omitted, but it's safer to keep it for formal writing.

Usually, no. You don't 'accroître' a person. You can 'accroître' a person's skills, knowledge, or power, but for a person growing taller, use 'grandir'.

The past participle is 'accru'. It is used with 'avoir' in the transitive sense and 'être' in the reflexive sense (s'accroître).

No, it is an irregular verb of the third group. It follows the conjugation of 'croître' but with its own specificities.

It is the reflexive form, meaning 'to increase' or 'to grow' by itself. For example: 'Les richesses s'accroissent' (Wealth is growing).

Yes, in many contexts, especially qualitative ones like 'accroître la saveur' (enhance the flavor) or 'accroître le prestige'.

It is a soft cluster. The 't' is light, and the 'r' is the standard French guttural 'r'. It should not be as sharp as the English 'tr' in 'train'.

It is common in formal speeches, news, and business meetings, but you rarely hear it in a casual conversation at a café.

The noun form is 'l'accroissement' (the increase/growth).

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Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence using 'accroître' in a business context.

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writing

Write a sentence using 's'accroître' in the present tense.

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writing

Use the past participle 'accru' in a sentence.

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writing

Translate: 'We must increase our efforts.'

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writing

Write a formal sentence about security using 'accroître'.

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writing

Use 'accroître' with a modal verb like 'pouvoir'.

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writing

Write a sentence about vocabulary using 'accroître'.

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writing

Translate: 'Tensions have increased significantly.'

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writing

Write a sentence using 'accroître' in the future tense.

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writing

Use the reflexive form to talk about stress.

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writing

Translate: 'The goal is to increase production.'

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writing

Write a sentence about 'influence' using 'accroître'.

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writing

Use 'accroître' in the conditional mood.

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writing

Translate: 'They increased their knowledge.'

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writing

Write a sentence with 'ne faire qu'accroître'.

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writing

Use 'accroître' to talk about 'visibility'.

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writing

Translate: 'Profits are growing.'

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writing

Write a sentence about 'competition'.

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writing

Use 'accroître' in a sentence about environment.

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writing

Translate: 'He wants to increase his speed.'

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speaking

Pronounce the word 'accroître' clearly.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Je veux accroître mon vocabulaire.'

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speaking

Say: 'L'entreprise veut accroître ses ventes.'

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speaking

Say: 'La population s'accroît.'

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speaking

Say: 'Il faut accroître les efforts.'

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speaking

Explain in French what 'accroître' means (simple).

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speaking

Say: 'Les tensions se sont accrues.'

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speaking

Say: 'Accroître la productivité.'

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speaking

Say: 'Nous accroissons notre budget.'

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speaking

Say: 'Cela va accroître vos chances.'

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speaking

Say: 'Le risque s'accroît.'

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speaking

Say: 'Accroître la visibilité du site.'

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speaking

Say: 'Il a accru ses connaissances.'

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speaking

Say: 'Accroître le rendement.'

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speaking

Say: 'La demande s'est accrue.'

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speaking

Say: 'Il importe d'accroître la vigilance.'

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speaking

Say: 'Accroître son capital sympathie.'

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speaking

Say: 'Cela ne fait qu'accroître le problème.'

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speaking

Say: 'Accroître la coopération internationale.'

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speaking

Say: 'L'innovation accroît la compétitivité.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Il veut accroître son vocabulaire.'

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listening

Listen and identify: 'Nous accroissons les ventes.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'La population s'accroît.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Le risque s'est accru.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Accroître la sécurité.'

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listening

Listen and identify the verb: 'Ils cherchent à accroître les bénéfices.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Les tensions se sont accrues.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Accroître la productivité.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Cela va accroître vos chances.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Il a accru ses efforts.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'L'inflation accroît les prix.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Nous devons accroître la coopération.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'La demande s'accroît.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Accroître la visibilité.'

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listening

Listen and write: 'Ses responsabilités se sont accrues.'

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