AtelierLe journal · French, understood
English

Language

The course

Updated

Phrasebook

Disponible or libre? Phrases for appointments, seats and stock

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ask when someone is available, whether a seat is free and whether an item is in stock. Practise disponible, libre and gratuit in short exchanges.

In short

Disponible means available. Libre can mean free from commitments or unoccupied, so both work for a person’s diary: Vous êtes libre / disponible mardi ? For “free of charge”, use gratuit or gratuite.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A traveller asks about an empty seat beside another passenger.
An unoccupied seat prompts cette place est-elle libre ?. Illustration: Atelier

Available for what?

What is the difference between disponible and libre?

1

Arrange a time

Both adjectives fit a diary. Give a day and time so the reply is useful.

YouÊtes-vous disponible mardi après-midi ?Are you available on Tuesday afternoon?
The person you are speaking toJe suis libre après quinze heures.I’m free after three o’clock.
YouQuinze heures trente, ça vous convient ?Does half past three suit you?
The person you are speaking toOui, je note le rendez-vous.Yes, I’ll put the appointment in my diary.
2

Ask about an empty seat

YouExcusez-moi, cette place est-elle libre ?Excuse me, is this seat free?
The person you are speaking toOui, vous pouvez vous asseoir.Yes, you can sit down.
YouMerci beaucoup.Thank you very much.
3

Ask about stock

For a product you can get, disponible is the usual choice.

YouCe modèle est-il disponible en bleu ?Is this model available in blue?
The person you are speaking toOui, il en reste deux.Yes, there are two left.
YouEt quel est son prix ?And what is its price?
4

Ask whether an activity costs anything

YouLa visite est-elle gratuite ?Is the tour free of charge?
The person you are speaking toOui, mais il faut réserver.Yes, but you need to book.

What does libre de mean?

Vous êtes libre de choisir la date.

You are free to choose the date.

Here libre de + infinitive means having a choice. Compare Vous êtes disponible vendredi — you have time on Friday. The English word “free” covers both meanings, plus price. The rest of the sentence tells you which French expression fits.

Same singular form for either gender
SingularPlural
un créneau disponibledes créneaux disponibles
une chambre disponibledes chambres disponibles
un siège libredes sièges libres
une table libredes tables libres
Question 1No account needed
In the appointment exchange, when can you meet?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Mardi à quinze heures trente.. The reply allows times after 15 h, and both speakers agree to 15 h 30.

Question 2No account needed
Which adjective asks whether you pay for the tour?La visite est-elle ___ ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

gratuite. Gratuite means free of charge and agrees with feminine visite.

Question 3No account needed
Which sentence expresses freedom of choice?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Vous êtes libre de choisir.. Libre de + infinitive describes the freedom to perform an action.

Keep going