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Annoncer or avertir? French phrases for news, notices and warnings

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Announce news, let someone know about a change and give a warning in French. Practise annoncer and avertir through four short exchanges and a quiz.

In short

Annoncer means to announce or tell someone news: annoncer une nouvelle à quelqu’un. Avertir means to notify or warn someone: avertir quelqu’un d’un changement. The news can be good or bad; a notice with avertir can be as simple as a new starting time.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two friends share good news outside a French café.
Good news gives you something to annoncer. Illustration: Atelier
The message and the person go in different places
FocusPatternExample
Announce the informationannoncer quelque chose à quelqu’unJ’annonce la date aux participants.
Notify the personavertir quelqu’un de quelque choseJ’avertis les participants du changement.
Notify someone with a full clauseavertir quelqu’un que…J’avertis les participants que l’horaire change.

In the first sentence, la date is what you announce and aux participants names the listeners. With avertir, the people come straight after the verb: avertir les participants. Then de introduces the change: de + le changement → du changement.

1

Share good news with a friend

Here, annoncer introduces something your friend is about to learn.

YouJ’ai une bonne nouvelle à t’annoncer : j’ai trouvé un travail !I’ve got some good news to tell you: I’ve found a job!
Other personFélicitations ! Tu commences quand ?Congratulations! When do you start?
YouLundi prochain. Je suis vraiment content !Next Monday. I’m really pleased!A woman says contente.
2

Announce a cancellation

The same verb introduces unwelcome news. You are speaking to the group who wanted to attend.

YouJe vous annonce que l’atelier de samedi est annulé.I’m letting you know that Saturday’s workshop is cancelled.
Other personD’accord. Il y aura une autre date ?All right. Will there be another date?
YouOui, le prochain atelier aura lieu le 12 mai.Yes, the next workshop will take place on 12 May.
3

Let someone know about a new starting time

Avertir gives the person useful notice. Prévenir is also common in this situation.

YouJe vous avertis d’un changement d’horaire : l’atelier commence à 18 heures.I’m letting you know about a change of time: the workshop starts at 6 pm.
Other personMerci pour l’information. Je note la nouvelle heure.Thanks for the information. I’ll note the new time.
YouAvertissez-moi si vous ne pouvez pas venir.Let me know if you can’t come.
4

Warn a friend about a deadline

The deadline gives avertir a warning sense: your friend could miss the chance to register.

YouJe t’avertis : après vendredi, ce sera trop tard pour s’inscrire.I’m warning you: after Friday, it will be too late to register.
Other personMerci ! Je vais m’inscrire aujourd’hui.Thanks! I’ll register today.
YouAvertis Léa aussi, elle veut venir.Let Léa know too; she wants to come.

One change, two useful sentences

annoncer le changementannounce the change

Focus: what is being made known

nous annonçons + the news

Nous annonçons le changement d’horaire à toute l’équipe.
We announce the change of time to the whole team.

avertir l’équipenotify the team

Focus: who needs the information

nous avertissons + the people + de

Nous avertissons toute l’équipe du changement d’horaire.
We let the whole team know about the change of time.

Question 1No account needed
Announce a date to your colleagues.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

J’annonce la date à mes collègues.. Annoncer takes the information directly: la date. The people follow à: à mes collègues.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the notification.Nous avertissons ___ du changement.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

les participants. The people are the direct object of avertir: nous avertissons les participants.

Question 3No account needed
A class you wanted to attend is cancelled. Which sentence announces that change?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Elle annonce l’annulation du cours.. Annoncer l’annulation announces the cancellation. Annoncer works with unwelcome news too.

Question 4No account needed
Tell one friend: let me know if the time changes.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Avertis-moi si l’horaire change.. The tu imperative is avertis. Attach moi with a hyphen: avertis-moi.

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