Apporter, Emporter or Rapporter?
Apporter, emporter and rapporter can all translate as “to take” or “to bring”. All three are built on porter, “to carry”, so they are used for things. For people and animals, French uses amener, emmener and ramener.
What changes from one verb to the next is the prefix, and the prefix tells you where the focus of the journey is.
Apporter
You bring something to a place or to someone.
The prefix a‑ (which doubles the p) points toward the destination. What matters is where the object ends up.
- Pour le pique-nique, apporte un dessert. Je m’occupe de l’entrée.For the picnic, bring a dessert. I’ll take care of the starter.
- J’ai apporté des bonbons à mes étudiants pour les motiver !I brought sweets for my students to motivate them!
- Pourriez-vous m’apporter l’addition, s’il vous plaît ?Could you bring me the bill, please?
Also: apporter = to give, to provide
Used figuratively, apporter means to give, to provide or to bring about.
- Ce stage m’a apporté beaucoup de confiance.This internship gave me a lot of confidence.
- Le nouveau directeur a apporté des changements importants.The new director brought in major changes.
Emporter
You take something with you when you leave.
The prefix em‑ comes from the old adverb en, “from there”. The focus is on the place you leave: the object goes away with you.
- N’oublie pas d’emporter un pull. Il fera froid en Irlande la semaine prochaine.Don’t forget to take a jumper. It’ll be cold in Ireland next week.
- J’emporte toujours un livre quand je prends les transports.I always take a book with me when I use public transport.
- Sur place ou à emporter ?Eat in or take away? (You will hear this in every café and bakery.)
Apporter or emporter? Ask which way the object is going.
Also: emporter = to sweep away
Used with force, literally or figuratively, emporter means to carry off or to sweep away.
- La tempête a emporté le toit de la grange.The storm blew the barn roof away.
- Elle s’est laissé emporter par l’enthousiasme.She got carried away by her enthusiasm.
Rapporter
You bring something back.
The prefix re‑ adds the idea of a return to apporter. The object goes back to where it came from, or comes back with you from somewhere.
- Pense à me rapporter le livre que je t’ai prêté il y a six mois, s’il te plaît.Remember to bring back the book I lent you six months ago, please.
- Elle nous a rapporté des chocolats de Suisse.She brought us back some chocolates from Switzerland.
Apporter or rapporter? One object, two journeys.
Also: rapporter = to report, to earn
Rapporter can also mean to report what someone said or did, or to bring in money.
- Le journaliste a rapporté les propos du ministre.The journalist reported the minister’s words.
- Ce petit commerce rapporte bien.This little business brings in good money.
Related forms
These forms are very common. Some belong to informal French.
| Form | Meaning and example |
|---|---|
| s’emporter | to lose your temper Il s’emporte pour un rien. |
| l’emporter (sur) | to win, to prevail Au bout du compte, la prudence l’a emporté. |
| remporter | to win (a prize, a match, an election); also, to take something away again Elle a remporté le premier prix. |
| rapporter | to tell tales familier Arrête de tout rapporter à la maîtresse ! |
| se rapporter à | to relate to, to concern Cette note se rapporte au deuxième chapitre. |
What about amener?
In everyday speech, many French speakers use amener, emmener and ramener for objects: amène ton maillot de bain, j’ai ramené du pain. You will hear this constantly. In writing, and in more formal speech, use apporter, emporter and rapporter for things, and keep the mener verbs for people and animals.
Check your understanding
Choose the verb that fits each sentence. An explanation appears after each answer.