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A2 verb #4,000 most common 10 min read

émettre

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips émettre in 30 Seconds

Explanation émettre in your Level:

At the A1 level, you might encounter 'émettre' in very simple contexts related to sounds or basic signals. You don't need to conjugate it perfectly yet, but you should recognize it as meaning 'to make' or 'to send out' a sound. For example, 'Le téléphone émet un son.' It is a word you will see more than you will use at this stage. Focus on the idea of a 'source' making something happen. Think of it as a more formal version of 'faire' for noises.

At the A2 level, 'émettre' becomes more useful as you start to talk about your opinions and basic administrative tasks. You should learn to use it in phrases like 'émettre un avis' (to give an opinion) or 'émettre un chèque' (to issue a check). You also learn its conjugation, which follows 'mettre.' This is the level where you start to distinguish between 'émettre' (sending a signal or document) and 'envoyer' (sending a letter). It helps you sound more precise in your daily life in France.

At the B1 level, you use 'émettre' in more complex discussions about the environment and society. You will talk about 'les émissions de CO2' and 'émettre des hypothèses.' You are expected to use it correctly in the passé composé ('il a émis') and the future tense. You also begin to see it in news articles about the economy, such as 'émettre de la monnaie.' Your vocabulary is expanding to include the formal nuances of expressing doubts and making suggestions using this verb.

At the B2 level, you master the nuances between 'émettre,' 'diffuser,' and 'transmettre.' You can use 'émettre' in formal debates to 'émettre des réserves' (express reservations) or 'émettre un jugement.' You understand its use in technical and scientific contexts without hesitation. You are comfortable with the passive voice ('des obligations ont été émises') and can explain the environmental impact of 'gaz à effet de serre émis' by different industries. Your usage is fluid and context-appropriate.

At the C1 level, 'émettre' is a tool for professional and academic precision. You use it to discuss the legality of 'titres émis' in the stock market or the philosophical implications of 'émettre un discours.' You recognize subtle shifts in meaning in literary texts where 'émettre' might describe a character's aura or the release of a subtle scent. You are also aware of its historical development and can use it to elevate the register of your writing in essays and reports.

At the C2 level, you have a complete command of 'émettre' across all registers. You can use it in highly specialized fields like quantum physics (émettre des photons) or international law (émettre un mandat d'arrêt international). You understand its most obscure idiomatic uses and can play with the word's connotations in creative writing. You can distinguish the finest shades of meaning between 'émettre' and its most rare synonyms, using the word to create perfectly balanced and sophisticated French prose.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

émettre in 30 Seconds

Émettre means to send out, whether it's a physical signal or a formal document.
It is a versatile verb used in science, finance, and everyday communication.
Conjugation follows the pattern of 'mettre' (j'émets, tu émets, il émet).
It is often used formally to express opinions, doubts, or official decrees.

The French verb émettre is a versatile and essential term that primary translates to 'to issue,' 'to emit,' or 'to give out.' At its core, it describes the act of sending something outward from a source. This can be a physical process, such as a radio tower sending out signals, or a more abstract administrative or communicative process, such as a government issuing a new decree or an individual expressing a specific opinion. For English speakers, the word often feels familiar because it shares the same Latin root as the English word 'emit,' but its usage in French is significantly broader, covering legal, financial, and social contexts that 'emit' rarely touches in English.

Physical Emission: This refers to the release of particles, light, sound, or radiation. For example, a car émet carbon dioxide, or a star émet light. It is the standard scientific term used in ecology and physics.
Administrative & Financial Issuance: In the world of finance and law, émettre is used when a bank issues a check, a government issues currency, or an organization issues a formal statement. It implies an official release of a document or value.
Communication of Ideas: One of the most common everyday uses is 'émettre un avis' (to give an opinion) or 'émettre des doutes' (to express doubts). Here, the 'source' is the person's mind, and the 'emission' is the verbalization of their thoughts.

Le gouvernement vient d'émettre de nouveaux timbres pour commémorer l'événement.

Historically, the word has evolved from the Latin emittere, where 'ex-' means 'out' and 'mittere' means 'to send.' This structural understanding helps learners remember that the action is always directed outward. In modern French, you will encounter it daily in news reports regarding climate change (les émissions de gaz), in financial news (émettre des obligations), and in polite conversation when someone wants to cautiously offer a suggestion (émettre une suggestion).

L'antenne de radio émet un signal fort dans toute la vallée.

Understanding the nuances of émettre requires recognizing that it is a 'verb of production.' Whether it is a physical wave or a psychological doubt, the subject is producing and releasing something into the environment. This makes it distinct from 'transmettre' (to transmit), which implies a conduit or a middle-man, and 'remettre' (to put back or hand over), which implies a direct transfer to a recipient. Émettre is often about the source's action of release without necessarily focusing on who receives it.

Je dois émettre une réserve sur ce projet avant que nous ne signions.

In summary, use émettre whenever you are describing the generation and release of something—be it light, sound, money, or a formal thought. It is a sophisticated word that elevates your French and allows you to participate in scientific, economic, and intellectual discussions with precision.

Using émettre correctly involves mastering its conjugation and understanding the specific objects it typically governs. As a derivative of the verb mettre, its conjugation follows the same pattern, which is irregular but consistent. For learners, this means if you know how to conjugate 'mettre' (je mets, tu mets, il met...), you already know how to conjugate 'émettre' (j'émets, tu émets, il émet...). This makes it a high-value verb for those moving from A2 to B1 levels.

Conjugation Pattern: Present: J'émets, tu émets, il émet, nous émettons, vous émettez, ils émettent. Past Participle: émis. Future: j'émettrai. Imperfect: j'émettais.
Direct Object Usage: The verb is transitive, meaning it usually takes a direct object. You emit 'something.' Example: 'La banque émet un chèque' (The bank issues a check).

Il est important d'émettre son opinion avec respect lors du débat.

When used in the context of physical phenomena, the sentence structure is often very simple: [Source] + [Conjugated émettre] + [Phenomenon]. For example, 'Le soleil émet de la chaleur.' In more complex administrative sentences, you might see it in the passive voice: 'Les billets ont été émis par la Banque Centrale.' This is very common in news reports and formal documents.

Cette vieille radio ne peut plus émettre sur ces fréquences.

In the context of 'expressing' something, émettre is frequently paired with abstract nouns like hypothèse (hypothesis), souhait (wish), or critique (criticism). This elevates the register of the sentence. Instead of saying 'Il a dit une critique,' which sounds basic, saying 'Il a émis une critique' sounds much more professional and precise.

Les scientifiques ont émis l'hypothèse que l'eau existait autrefois sur Mars.

Finally, in the digital age, émettre is used for data transmission. When your phone 'sends out' a Bluetooth signal or a Wi-Fi request, it is émettant a signal. This makes the word highly relevant for technical discussions and daily troubleshooting of electronics.

Vérifiez si l'appareil continue d'émettre quand il est en mode veille.

The word émettre is ubiquitous in French life, appearing in diverse domains from the evening news to scientific journals and bureaucratic procedures. If you listen to French radio (like France Inter or RTL), you will often hear the presenters talk about 'l'émetteur' (the transmitter) or the act of 'émettre en direct' (broadcasting live). In this context, it is the standard technical term for telecommunications.

The Evening News (Le JT): Journalists frequently use it when discussing environmental policy. You will hear phrases like 'réduire les gaz émis par les usines' (reducing gases emitted by factories) almost every time climate change is mentioned.
Banking and Administration: When you open a bank account in France, you might hear about 'émettre un chèque sans provision' (issuing a rubber check/bounced check). It is a serious legal term in the French financial system.

La station de radio a cessé d'émettre suite à une panne technique majeure.

In academic and intellectual circles, émettre is the preferred verb for proposing theories. During a university lecture, a professor might say, 'Certains chercheurs ont émis l'idée que...' (Some researchers have put forward the idea that...). It suggests a level of formal presentation and intellectual rigor that simpler verbs lack.

Il est interdit d'émettre des bruits excessifs après 22 heures dans cet immeuble.

You will also see this word on official forms. For example, a 'passeport émis le...' (passport issued on...) is standard terminology on French identification documents. Similarly, if you receive a fine (une amende), the document will state the authority that 'a émis l'avis de contravention.'

Veuillez vérifier la date à laquelle ce document a été émis.

Finally, in the world of art and literature, a critic might 'émettre un jugement' (pass judgment) on a new work. This usage highlights the verb's role in the public sphere, where internal thoughts are externalized for others to see and evaluate.

L'artiste refuse d'émettre le moindre commentaire sur son œuvre.

While émettre is a powerful verb, English speakers often stumble when choosing between it and its synonyms. The most frequent error is using it too broadly or confusing it with verbs that have a similar 'sending' meaning but different contexts. Understanding these boundaries is crucial for achieving a natural-sounding French style.

Confusing with 'Envoyer': Learners often want to use 'émettre' for sending a letter or an email. This is incorrect. Use 'envoyer' for physical or digital mail. 'Émettre' is for the creation and initial release of a document (like a check or a passport), not the act of mailing it.
Overusing for 'Speaking': While 'émettre une opinion' is correct, you cannot use 'émettre' as a general replacement for 'dire' (to say). You wouldn't say 'Il a émis bonjour.' It must be followed by a formal noun like 'avis,' 'souhait,' or 'hypothèse.'

Incorrect: J'ai émis un e-mail à mon patron. (Use 'envoyé' instead).

Another common mistake involves conjugation. Because émettre ends in -ttre, learners sometimes forget to drop one 't' in the singular forms of the present tense. It is 'il émet' (one 't'), not 'il émettent' (which is the plural form). This stems from a confusion with the infinitive stem.

Correct: Le radiateur émet une douce chaleur. (Note the single 't').

In the context of light or sound, learners sometimes use 'faire' (to make). While 'faire du bruit' is common and correct for general noise, 'émettre un son' is the correct term when discussing the source of the sound in a more technical or descriptive way. Using 'émettre' makes you sound more like a native speaker who understands the mechanics of the situation.

Le détecteur de fumée émet un bip strident quand les piles sont faibles.

Finally, avoid using 'émettre' when you mean 'to broadcast' a specific TV show in the sense of 'it's on now.' While a station 'émet' (broadcasts) a signal, for a specific program, the verb 'diffuser' is much more common. 'L'émission est diffusée à 20h' is better than 'L'émission est émise à 20h.'

Attention : on émet un avis, mais on diffuse un film.

To truly master émettre, you must understand how it relates to other verbs in the 'sending' and 'expressing' families. French is a language of nuance, and choosing the right synonym can change the entire tone of your statement. Here we compare émettre with its closest relatives.

Émettre vs. Diffuser: 'Émettre' focuses on the source and the act of starting the signal. 'Diffuser' focuses on the spread and distribution. You 'émet' a signal from a tower, but you 'diffuse' a message or a scent throughout a room.
Émettre vs. Exprimer: 'Exprimer' is general and personal (to express feelings, thoughts). 'Émettre' is more formal and often used for specific intellectual outputs like 'un avis' or 'une hypothèse.' You 'exprime' your joy, but you 'émet' a reservation about a contract.
Émettre vs. Produire: 'Produire' is about the creation process. 'Émettre' is about the release. A factory 'produit' cars, but it 'émet' fumes.

Il est préférable d'émettre des doutes maintenant plutôt que plus tard.

In financial contexts, you might consider lancer (to launch) or créer (to create). However, émettre remains the technical term for stocks (des actions) or bonds (des obligations). If you use 'créer des actions,' people will understand you, but 'émettre des actions' marks you as a sophisticated speaker familiar with business French.

Le volcan a émis une quantité massive de cendres dans l'atmosphère.

In scientific writing, you will often see dégager used as a synonym for 'émettre' heat or gas. 'La réaction dégage de la chaleur.' While 'émettre' is correct, 'dégager' suggests a release that was perhaps a byproduct of another process. 'Émettre' is more neutral regarding the cause.

Nous allons émettre un nouveau communiqué de presse demain matin.

Ultimately, émettre is your go-to verb for any situation where a source sends something out into the world, whether that thing is physical, financial, or intellectual. Its formal tone and technical precision make it an indispensable part of a mature French vocabulary.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'émettre' is a direct cousin of the English word 'mission' and 'message', all coming from the same Latin 'mittere' root.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /e.mɛtʁ/

US /e.mɛtɹ/

Stress is usually on the final syllable in French, but it is very subtle.

Rhymes With

permettre transmettre admettre promettre compromettre remettre soumettre omettre

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Confusing the 'é' sound with 'e' (like in 'le').
Failing to pronounce the 't' clearly in the middle.
Making the 'r' too hard like an English 'r'.
Pronouncing it like 'em-it' (English influence).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because of its similarity to 'emit'.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of the irregular 'mettre' conjugation.

Speaking 3/5

Needs practice to use in the correct formal contexts.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced and common in news broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

mettre avis gaz signal chèque

Learn Next

transmettre permettre soumettre omettre

Advanced

fongibilité titrisation rayonnement faisceau

Grammar to Know

Conjugation of -ttre verbs

J'émets, nous émettons (double 't' in plural).

Transitive verbs

Émettre requires a direct object (un avis, un son).

Passive voice with 'être'

Le chèque a été émis.

Infinitive as a noun

L'acte d'émettre est réglementé.

Agreement of the past participle

Les opinions qu'il a émises (agreement with 'opinions').

Examples by Level

Le chat émet un petit miaulement.

The cat makes a small meow.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

La radio émet de la musique.

The radio is emitting music.

Subject-Verb-Object structure.

Le jouet émet une lumière rouge.

The toy emits a red light.

Direct object 'une lumière rouge'.

Est-ce que ton téléphone émet un son ?

Does your phone make a sound?

Interrogative form with 'est-ce que'.

L'oiseau émet un chant matinal.

The bird gives out a morning song.

Standard present tense.

La machine émet un bip.

The machine makes a beep.

Simple transitive verb.

Le soleil émet de la chaleur.

The sun emits heat.

Scientific fact in present tense.

Le petit robot émet des signaux.

The little robot emits signals.

Plural direct object.

Je voudrais émettre un avis sur ce film.

I would like to give an opinion on this movie.

Infinitive after 'voudrais'.

La banque a émis ma nouvelle carte.

The bank issued my new card.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Il faut émettre un chèque pour payer.

You must issue a check to pay.

Impersonal 'il faut' + infinitive.

L'usine émet trop de fumée noire.

The factory emits too much black smoke.

Adverb of quantity 'trop de'.

Nous émettons des doutes sur ce plan.

We are expressing doubts about this plan.

1st person plural present tense.

Le professeur émet une critique constructive.

The teacher gives constructive criticism.

Adjective agreement 'constructive'.

Peux-tu émettre un reçu, s'il te plaît ?

Can you issue a receipt, please?

Interrogative with 'peux-tu'.

La station émet sur une nouvelle fréquence.

The station is broadcasting on a new frequency.

Prepositional phrase 'sur une nouvelle fréquence'.

Le gouvernement a émis un nouveau décret.

The government issued a new decree.

Formal administrative context.

Les voitures électriques n'émettent pas de CO2.

Electric cars do not emit CO2.

Negative form 'ne...pas de'.

Il a émis le souhait de partir en voyage.

He expressed the wish to go on a trip.

Noun phrase 'le souhait de'.

L'émetteur de radio a été réparé hier.

The radio transmitter was repaired yesterday.

Related noun 'émetteur'.

Elle a émis l'hypothèse d'une erreur humaine.

She put forward the hypothesis of human error.

Scientific register.

La France émet des timbres de collection.

France issues collectible stamps.

National issuance context.

Nous devons émettre des réserves sur ce contrat.

We must express reservations about this contract.

Professional nuance 'émettre des réserves'.

L'appareil émet un signal de détresse.

The device is emitting a distress signal.

Technical context.

Le Trésor public a émis des obligations d'État.

The Public Treasury issued government bonds.

Financial terminology.

Chaque pays doit réduire les gaz qu'il émet.

Each country must reduce the gases it emits.

Relative clause 'qu'il émet'.

L'expert a émis un avis favorable au projet.

The expert gave a favorable opinion on the project.

Collocation 'avis favorable'.

Les lampes à LED émettent moins de chaleur.

LED lamps emit less heat.

Comparison 'moins de'.

L'ONU a émis une résolution pour la paix.

The UN issued a resolution for peace.

International diplomatic context.

Il a émis des critiques acerbes contre la direction.

He issued sharp criticisms against the management.

Sophisticated adjective 'acerbes'.

La banque centrale émet la monnaie fiduciaire.

The central bank issues fiduciary currency.

Economic terminology.

Le suspect refuse d'émettre la moindre déclaration.

The suspect refuses to make the slightest statement.

Negative emphasis 'la moindre'.

Le philosophe émet l'idée d'une conscience universelle.

The philosopher puts forward the idea of a universal consciousness.

Abstract intellectual context.

La société a émis de nouvelles actions en bourse.

The company issued new shares on the stock market.

Corporate finance context.

L'autorité de sûreté a émis une mise en demeure.

The safety authority issued a formal notice.

Legal term 'mise en demeure'.

Le pulsar émet des ondes radio à intervalles réguliers.

The pulsar emits radio waves at regular intervals.

Astrophysical context.

Il a émis des doutes quant à la véracité des faits.

He expressed doubts as to the truth of the facts.

Prepositional phrase 'quant à'.

Le poète émet des vers d'une grande beauté.

The poet gives out verses of great beauty.

Literary metaphor.

La commission émet un rapport annuel détaillé.

The commission issues a detailed annual report.

Institutional context.

Ce matériau émet des radiations dangereuses.

This material emits dangerous radiation.

Scientific/Safety context.

Le conseil constitutionnel a émis une réserve d'interprétation.

The Constitutional Council issued a reservation of interpretation.

Highly specialized legal term.

L'entreprise est habilitée à émettre des titres de créance.

The company is authorized to issue debt securities.

Advanced financial law.

Le noyau atomique émet des particules alpha.

The atomic nucleus emits alpha particles.

Nuclear physics context.

Elle a émis un soupir de soulagement imperceptible.

She let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.

Nuanced literary description.

Le tribunal a émis un mandat d'amener à son encontre.

The court issued a warrant to bring him in.

Criminal law terminology.

Il est vain d'émettre des vœux sans agir.

It is futile to make wishes without acting.

Philosophical aphorism.

La galaxie émet un rayonnement fossile capté par les satellites.

The galaxy emits cosmic microwave background radiation captured by satellites.

Advanced cosmology.

Le préfet a émis un arrêté interdisant la manifestation.

The prefect issued a decree banning the demonstration.

French administrative law.

Common Collocations

émettre un avis

émettre des doutes

émettre un chèque

émettre des gaz

émettre un signal

émettre un vœu

émettre une hypothèse

émettre un communiqué

émettre des actions

émettre un son

Common Phrases

émettre un jugement

— To pass judgment or give a formal opinion on something.

Il est trop tôt pour émettre un jugement définitif.

émettre une réserve

— To express a reservation or a minor objection.

Je soutiens le projet, mais je dois émettre une réserve.

émettre un mandat

— To issue a legal warrant or mandate.

Le juge a émis un mandat d'arrêt.

émettre de la monnaie

— To print or issue legal tender (money).

Seule la banque centrale peut émettre de la monnaie.

émettre une critique

— To voice a criticism.

Il n'a pas hésité à émettre une critique sévère.

émettre une suggestion

— To make a suggestion formally.

Puis-je émettre une suggestion pour améliorer le flux ?

émettre un appel

— To make or send out a call (often a distress call).

Le navire a émis un appel au secours.

émettre des ondes

— To emit waves (radio, microwave, etc.).

Le micro-ondes émet des ondes courtes.

émettre un diagnostic

— To provide a medical or technical diagnosis.

Le médecin a émis un diagnostic rassurant.

émettre une facture

— To issue an invoice for payment.

Nous allons émettre la facture en fin de mois.

Often Confused With

émettre vs omettre

Means 'to omit' or 'to leave out'. It's the opposite of sending something out!

émettre vs transmettre

Means 'to transmit' or 'pass on'. Émettre is the start of the signal; transmettre is the carrying of it.

émettre vs envoyer

General 'to send'. Use envoyer for mail, émettre for official issuance or physical radiation.

Idioms & Expressions

"émettre sur la même longueur d'onde"

— To be on the same wavelength (metaphorically, to understand each other perfectly).

Heureusement, mon associé et moi émettons sur la même longueur d'onde.

Informal

"ne pas émettre un son"

— To remain completely silent (not even a sound).

Pendant tout le film, il n'a pas émis un son.

Neutral

"émettre un chèque en bois"

— To issue a 'wooden check' (a bounced check/rubber check).

Il a eu des problèmes après avoir émis un chèque en bois.

Informal

"émettre des vœux pieux"

— To express 'pious wishes' (wishful thinking that is unlikely to happen).

Leurs promesses ne sont que des vœux pieux émis pour plaire.

Neutral

"émettre à tout vent"

— To spread opinions or talk everywhere without much thought.

Il émet ses critiques à tout vent sans connaître le dossier.

Informal

"émettre un bémol"

— To express a slight reservation (literally 'to put a flat note').

J'aime l'idée, mais je dois émettre un petit bémol sur le prix.

Neutral

"émettre des signaux de fumée"

— To give very vague or primitive signs of something.

Leur communication est si mauvaise qu'on dirait qu'ils émettent des signaux de fumée.

Informal

"émettre son dernier souffle"

— To breathe one's last (to die).

Il a émis son dernier souffle entouré de sa famille.

Literary

"émettre une fin de non-recevoir"

— To issue a flat refusal or dismissal of a request.

La direction a émis une fin de non-recevoir à nos demandes.

Formal

"émettre des ondes positives"

— To give off positive vibes/energy.

Elle émet toujours des ondes positives quand elle entre dans une pièce.

Informal

Easily Confused

émettre vs Émettre

Sounds like 'emit' in English.

In French, it also covers issuing checks and giving opinions, which 'emit' doesn't.

J'émets un chèque.

émettre vs Remettre

Same root verb 'mettre'.

Remettre means to put back, to postpone, or to hand over.

Je remets mon rendez-vous.

émettre vs Admettre

Same root verb 'mettre'.

Admettre means to admit or to accept.

J'admets mon erreur.

émettre vs Promettre

Same root verb 'mettre'.

Promettre means to promise.

Je promets d'être là.

émettre vs Soumettre

Same root verb 'mettre'.

Soumettre means to submit or to subdue.

Je soumets mon rapport.

Sentence Patterns

Je voudrais émettre + [un avis/un souhait]

Je voudrais émettre un souhait.

Il est interdit d'émettre + [bruit/fumée]

Il est interdit d'émettre de la fumée ici.

L'autorité a émis + [document officiel]

La préfecture a émis mon permis.

Émettre des doutes quant à + [nom]

Il émet des doutes quant à sa réussite.

Est-ce que tu peux émettre + [objet] ?

Est-ce que tu peux émettre un reçu ?

Le soleil émet + [lumière/chaleur]

Le soleil émet de la lumière.

Si nous émettons + [hypothèse]...

Si nous émettons l'hypothèse qu'il pleuve...

Nul ne peut émettre + [jugement] sans preuves.

Nul ne peut émettre un jugement sans preuves.

Word Family

Nouns

émetteur (transmitter/issuer)

émission (broadcast/emission)

réémission (re-issuance)

Verbs

réémettre (to re-issue)

transmettre (to transmit)

mettre (to put)

Adjectives

émetteur (emitting)

émissif (emissive)

onde

signal

monnaie

avis

gaz

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media, science, and administration. Less common in casual spoken slang.

Common Mistakes

Using 'émettre' for sending letters. → J'ai envoyé une lettre.
'Émettre' is for the act of official creation/issuance, not delivery.
Spelling the past participle as 'émitté'. → J'ai émis.
The past participle of 'mettre' derivatives ends in -is.
Saying 'il émette' in the present indicative. → Il émet.
'Émette' is the subjunctive form. Use 'émet' for simple facts.
Using 'émettre' for 'to broadcast' a specific movie. → Le film est diffusé.
'Diffuser' is the correct term for media content.
Forgetting the 's' in 'j'émets'. → J'émets.
The first person singular of -tre verbs almost always ends in -s.

Tips

Conjugation Mastery

Always remember that 'émettre' conjugates exactly like 'mettre'. If you master one, you master both!

Opinion Power

Use 'émettre un avis' in your French exams to impress the examiner with your formal vocabulary.

Environmental Talk

When reading about ecology, 'émissions' always refers to what is being sent into the atmosphere.

Banking French

In a French bank, you will see 'émis par' on your statements. It tells you who issued the transaction.

Single vs Double T

Remember: one 't' in the singular (j'émets), two 't's in the plural (nous émettons).

Global Issues

The phrase 'émissions de gaz à effet de serre' (greenhouse gas emissions) is essential for modern B2/C1 levels.

Elegant Wishes

Instead of 'Je veux', try 'J'émets le souhait de...' for a much more elegant and polite request.

Tech Talk

If your Wi-Fi is weak, you can say 'La box n'émet pas un signal assez fort'.

Official Documents

Passports and IDs are always 'émis' by an authority. Look for this on your own documents!

Don't confuse with Omettre

Think: 'E' for Exit (émettre) and 'O' for Off/Out (omettre - to leave out).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'EMitter' sending out 'E-mails' (though 'envoyer' is used for emails, the concept of sending OUT helps). Or imagine an EMerald emitting a green light.

Visual Association

Imagine a radio tower on a hill with waves spreading out in circles. Those circles are what the tower 'émet'.

Word Web

Signal Gaz Avis Chèque Lumière Onde Doute Vœu

Challenge

Try to use 'émettre' three times today: once for a sound, once for an opinion, and once for a physical object.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'emittere', which is composed of 'ex-' (out) and 'mittere' (to send).

Original meaning: To send out, to let go, or to release.

Romance (Latin-based).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; the word is neutral and technical.

English speakers often use 'emit' only for science (light/gas). In French, 'émettre' is much more common in daily finance and conversation.

L'émission 'Le Grand Journal' Les émissions de CO2 (Climate debates) Émettre un chèque (Common banking task)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Environment

émissions de carbone
émettre des polluants
réduire les émissions
gaz émis

Finance

émettre un chèque
émettre des actions
émetteur de titres
date d'émission

Communication

émettre un avis
émettre une critique
émettre un vœu
émettre une hypothèse

Science

émettre un rayonnement
émettre des ondes
émettre de la chaleur
source émettrice

Law

émettre un décret
émettre un mandat
émettre un jugement
autorité émettrice

Conversation Starters

"Quel avis émettez-vous sur la nouvelle loi ?"

"Pensez-vous que les usines émettent trop de pollution ici ?"

"Avez-vous déjà dû émettre un chèque de banque ?"

"Quelle hypothèse émettez-vous pour expliquer ce mystère ?"

"La radio émet-elle bien dans votre région ?"

Journal Prompts

Émettez trois vœux pour votre avenir et expliquez pourquoi ils sont importants.

Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû émettre des doutes sur la parole de quelqu'un.

Réfléchissez aux gaz que nous émettons quotidiennement et comment les réduire.

Si vous deviez émettre une nouvelle monnaie, à quoi ressemblerait-elle ?

Émettez une critique constructive sur le dernier livre que vous avez lu.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, for emails you should use 'envoyer'. 'Émettre' is for signals, light, or official documents like checks.

Yes, it is more formal than 'dire' or 'faire'. It's used in professional, scientific, or academic contexts.

The past participle is 'émis'. For example: 'Il a émis un avis'.

You use 'émettre' : 'émettre un passeport'.

Yes, you can say 'une fleur émet un parfum', though 'diffuser' or 'dégager' are also common.

It is a transmitter, like a radio tower or the person/entity that issues a check.

It is 'j'émets' with an 's' for the first person singular present tense.

It takes 'avoir'. Example: 'J'ai émis'.

Yes, but 'diffuser' is more common for the actual program. 'Émettre' refers to the signal.

Depending on context, it could be 'recevoir' (receive) or 'absorber' (absorb).