verb

renseigner

find out · inform

Donner des informations ou des réponses à quelqu’un qui pose des questions.

Definition & meaning

Renseigner is a regular French verb meaning to inform, provide information, or give someone details.

Renseigner quelqu’un sur quelque chose means to inform someone about something. For example, renseigner un client sur les horaires means “to give a customer information about the schedule.”
Renseigner un formulaire means to fill in or provide information on a form or field.
In its reflexive form, se renseigner means to find out, make inquiries, or get information: se renseigner sur un logement means “to find out about a place to live.”

Grammar & Word origin

Renseigner is a regular -er verb. It is usually transitive: it takes a person or thing that receives the information, as in renseigner un visiteur. The reflexive form is se renseigner.

The word is formed from re- and enseigner. Here, re- contributes to the sense of supplying or adding information; renseigner is not simply a synonym for teaching.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary according to the meaning:

informer — to inform; a close, general synonym, while renseigner often suggests giving practical details or answering a request for information.
instruire — to inform or educate; it can imply teaching or giving more extensive knowledge.
se documenter — to research or consult sources; more focused on gathering information oneself than simply making inquiries.
s’informer — to seek information; very close to se renseigner, often with a broader sense of keeping oneself informed.

Possible antonyms include:

désinformer — to give false or misleading information; stronger and more deliberate than merely failing to inform.
induire en erreur — to mislead someone, rather than inform them accurately.

Common phrases & collocations

renseigner quelqu’un — to give someone information.
renseigner quelqu’un sur quelque chose — to inform someone about something.
se renseigner auprès de quelqu’un — to inquire with someone or ask them for information.
se renseigner sur quelque chose — to find out about something.
renseigner un formulaire — to fill in a form or enter information on it.