Published April 9, 2025 • Updated October 24, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Licencier meaning
Licencier is a French verb meaning “to fire,” “to dismiss” or “to lay off” an employee. It is a false cognate (faux ami) because it does not mean “to license” in English. The expression se faire licencier means “to get fired” or “to get laid off.” In informal spoken French, virer is commonly used to mean “to fire.”
Licencier pronunciation
The IPA pronunciation of licencier is /li.sɑ̃.sje/, which sounds approximately like “lee-sahn-syay.”
Licencier example sentences
Le gouvernement est en train de licencier des milliers d’employés.
The government is currently firing thousands of employees.
Après vingt ans dans la même société, Guillaume s’est fait licencier.
Guillaume got fired after 20 years in the same company.
Mon dernier patron m’a viré en 2008.
My last boss fired me in 2008.
👉 Next lesson: French jobs vocabulary »
Understand French as it’s really spoken.
Camille’s À Moi Paris course gives you extensive listening practice with natural French, not just slow, artificial textbook audio.
👉 Explore À Moi Paris »
👉 Read my review »
If you purchase the course, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
🔗 Related words and expressions
- embaucher — to hire
- démissionner — to resign, quit
- virer — to fire (informal)
- renvoyer — to dismiss, fire
- un licenciement — a dismissal, layoff
- un préavis — a notice period
- une indemnité de licenciement — severance pay
📚 Related lessons
🚀 Continue learning on FrenchLearner!
👉 French Word of the Day »
👉 French vocabulary lists »
👉 French grammar lessons »
