Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou can use it like this: Je m'abonne à un magazine. (I subscribe to a magazine.) Or, Elle s'abonne au service de streaming. (She subscribes to the streaming service.)
Yes, 's'abonner' is always a reflexive verb in French. This means it always uses a reflexive pronoun like 'me,' 'te,' 'se,' 'nous,' or 'vous.'
While both can mean 'to subscribe,' s'abonner is more common for ongoing services or publications (like magazines, Netflix). Souscrire is often used for financial agreements, contracts, or insurance, implying a more formal commitment.
Here's the present tense conjugation:
- Je m'abonne (I subscribe)
- Tu t'abonnes (You subscribe - informal)
- Il/Elle/On s'abonne (He/She/One subscribes)
- Nous nous abonnons (We subscribe)
- Vous vous abonnez (You subscribe - formal/plural)
- Ils/Elles s'abonnent (They subscribe)
Absolutely! It's very common. You would say: Je m'abonne à votre chaîne YouTube. (I subscribe to your YouTube channel.)
You almost always use 'à' after 's'abonner' to indicate what you are subscribing to. For example, s'abonner à un journal (to subscribe to a newspaper).
To say 'unsubscribe,' you would use 'se désabonner.' For example, Je veux me désabonner de cette newsletter. (I want to unsubscribe from this newsletter.)
'Abonnement' is the noun form of the verb 's'abonner.' It means 'subscription.' For instance, Mon abonnement expire bientôt. (My subscription expires soon.)
It can be, but often you'd use verbs like 's'inscrire' (to register/sign up) or 'créer un compte' (to create an account) for general account creation. 'S'abonner' specifically implies an ongoing service or publication you pay for or receive regularly.
Since 's'abonner' is a reflexive verb, it uses 'être' as its auxiliary verb in the passé composé. So, you would say: Je me suis abonné(e). (I subscribed.) Remember to agree the past participle if the subject is feminine (abonnée).
Test Yourself 12 questions
Je veux ___ à ce magazine de mode.
The verb 's'abonner' is reflexive. When used with 'vouloir' (to want), it stays in the infinitive form, and the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject: 'Je veux m'abonner.' (I want to subscribe).
Elle ___ à Netflix pour regarder des films.
For the subject 'elle' (she), the conjugated form of 's'abonner' is 's'abonne'. (She subscribes to Netflix to watch movies).
Nous allons ___ à la newsletter de ce site web.
With 'aller' (to go) + infinitive, 's'abonner' remains in the infinitive, and the reflexive pronoun 'nous' agrees with the subject 'nous'. (We are going to subscribe to this website's newsletter).
Tu peux ___ à ma chaîne YouTube si tu aimes mes vidéos.
After 'pouvoir' (can), the verb is in the infinitive. The reflexive pronoun for 'tu' is 'te', which becomes 't'' before a vowel. (You can subscribe to my YouTube channel if you like my videos).
Ils ___ au journal local chaque matin.
For the subject 'ils' (they, masculine plural), the conjugated form of 's'abonner' is 's'abonnent'. (They subscribe to the local newspaper every morning).
Pourriez-vous ___ à notre service premium ?
After 'pouvoir' (can, polite form 'pourriez'), the verb is in the infinitive. The reflexive pronoun for 'vous' is 'vous'. (Could you subscribe to our premium service?).
Choose the most appropriate synonym for "s'abonner" in the context of a newspaper subscription.
"Souscrire" is commonly used for subscriptions to publications or services, making it the most direct synonym in this context. While "adhérer" can mean to join, and "engager" to commit, "souscrire" specifically implies setting up a regular payment or agreement for access.
Dans une discussion sur les plateformes de streaming, quelle phrase utilise "s'abonner" le plus naturellement ?
The verb "s'abonner" is used here in its most common and modern sense: to subscribe to a channel or service. The other options use the verb in a metaphorical or incorrect way.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the use of "s'abonner" to arrange for regular service?
"S'abonner" implies a recurring commitment, often financial, to receive a product or service regularly. Signing up for a monthly delivery perfectly fits this definition.
If you "vous abonnez" to a library, it means you are only visiting it once.
To "s'abonner" to a library means to become a member, usually for a period, allowing regular access to its services and resources, not just a single visit.
When someone says, "Je me suis abonné à ce magazine," it implies they receive new issues periodically.
This statement is true. To "s'abonner à un magazine" directly translates to subscribing to it, meaning new issues will be received regularly over time.
The phrase "s'abonner à une idée" is a common and literal use of the verb in French.
While you might metaphorically "buy into" an idea, "s'abonner" is not literally used with abstract concepts like ideas. It refers to subscribing to a service or publication.
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Perfect score!
Example
Vous pouvez vous abonner à notre chaîne YouTube.
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