Servir, meaning “to serve”, is an irregular IR French verb with a wide range of usages.

servir

to serve

Servir – to serve

Word origin

The Modern French verb servir comes from servire (to be a slave, to serve) and servus (slave, servant) in Latin.

Present tense conjugation

Je sers I serve
Tu sers You serve (singular, informal)
Il, elle sert He, she serves
Nous servons We serve
Vous servez You serve (plural, formal)
Ils, elles servent They serve

Example sentences

Le serveur sert le repas.

The waiter serves the meal.

Servir can translate to “to help” or “to assist”.

Je suis toujours prêt a servir les autres.

I’m always ready to help others.

Servir à means “to be used for” or “to be used to”

Cette scie sert à couper le bois.

This saw is used to cut wood.

A quoi sert-il ce club de golf ?

What is this golf club used for?

In the reflexive form, se servir + noun means “to help yourself to” or to take.

Je me sers un peu de glace pendant la nuit.

I help myself to some ice cream during the night.

Se servir de de means “to use”.

Est-ce que tu te sers de cet outil ?

Are you using this tool?

Related lessons

• Reflexive verbs
• Repas – meal
• Toujours – always
• Pendant – during
• Est-ce que – is/are/do/does

References

• WordReference – servir
• Wiktionary – serve

Word of the Day | Lessons by David Issokson

David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

See Full Bio

Sharing is caring!