posséder

possess

verb po-seh-DEH Less Common

Also means

own

Usage Note

Posséder means to own or possess property, skills, or qualities (posséder une maison, posséder un talent). Colloquially, il m'a possédé can mean 'he fooled me' or 'he had me completely.' The noun la possession and the adjective possessif (possessive) share the root. It conjugates like other -é- stem verbs, with accent changes (je possède).

Examples

"Elle possède une grande maison à la campagne."

Natural Translation

She owns a large house in the countryside.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 1 to 100: Count With Confidence

French numbers 1 to 100 in one complete chart, with pronunciation, the et-un rule, hyphens, and the four-twenties system explained so you can count anywhere.

June 4, 2026 6 min read