Common mistakes
Assumer or supposer? How to translate “assume” into French
Choose assumer for responsibility and supposer for an unverified belief. Compare workplace examples, repair misleading translations and test five decisions.
- B2
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In short
Use assumer when someone takes on responsibility or accepts the consequences: J’assume mon erreur. For assuming that something is true, use supposer que or présumer que. Use partir du principe que to state a working assumption.
- assumerto suppose that a fact is trueto take on or accept responsibility
J’assume la responsabilité de ce retard.I take responsibility for this delay.
For an unverified belief, say Je suppose que…
- supposer queto take responsibility forto assume or suppose that
Je suppose que le client a reçu le compte rendu.I assume the client has received the minutes.
For accepting a mistake, say J’assume mon erreur.
| Meaning | French wording | What it commits you to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking responsibility | assumer une responsabilité | You accept a duty or its consequences. |
| Tentative belief | supposer que | You think something is true. |
| Working assumption | partir du principe que | You use an idea as your starting point. |
| Taking up a role | prendre ses fonctions | You begin doing the job. |
How do you translate “assume” into French?
- Léa
Je suppose que le client a reçu le compte rendu. Je vais vérifier.
I assume the client has received the minutes. I’ll check.
- Samir
Il ne l’a pas reçu. J’ai oublié de l’envoyer.
He hasn’t received them. I forgot to send them.
- Samir
J’assume cette erreur. Je lui écris tout de suite.
I take responsibility for that mistake. I’ll write to him straight away.
Supposer describes Léa’s belief; assumer describes Samir’s response to his mistake. Someone can assumer un choix even when other people dislike it: they stand by it. That still concerns accepting a choice, rather than predicting a fact.
- J’assume que la réunion commence à neuf heures.Je suppose que la réunion commence à neuf heures.
The intended message is an unverified belief about the time. Use supposer que.
- Nous assumons que les chiffres sont exacts.Nous partons du principe que les chiffres sont exacts.
This states the starting assumption for the work. Assumer would blur that meaning.
- Elle suppose la responsabilité de l’équipe.Elle assume la responsabilité de l’équipe.
Here she takes responsibility. French supposer cannot express that duty.