Four French words translate as “free” in English: libre, gratuit, sans frais, and offert. The difference lies in whether the freedom concerns cost, rights, or availability.

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Libre – freedom, not price

Libre means “free” in the sense of liberty, permission, or absence of restriction. It does not mean “costing nothing.” Use it for open-source software, available seats, or personal autonomy.

Examples:

• Le logiciel est libre. – “The software is free.” (as in open-source, you may modify it)
• Avez-vous une table libre ? – “Do you have a free table?” (not occupied)
• Elle est libre de partir. – “She is free to leave.”
• Le calendrier indique une journée libre. – “The calendar shows a free day.” (no appointments)
• Entrée libre – “Free entry” (no ticket required, but not necessarily no cost)
• Libre service – “Self service” (as in a supermarket)

Synonyms:

• disponible – available
• non occupé – not occupied
• indépendant – independent
• ouvert – open (as in open source)

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Gratuit – costing nothing

Gratuit means “free of charge.” It only refers to price. Use it for services, goods, or access that require no payment.

Examples:

• L’entrée est gratuite pour les enfants. – “Entry is free for children.”
• Ce guide est gratuit. – “This guide is free of charge.”
• Un échantillon gratuit. – “A free sample.”
• Le stationnement est gratuit le dimanche. – “Parking is free on Sundays.”
• Téléchargement gratuit. – “Free download.”

Synonyms:

• à prix libre – pay-what-you-want (literally “at free price”)
• donné – given away (informal)
• sans coût – without cost

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Sans frais – no hidden or extra charges

Sans frais means “without fees” or “free of extra costs.” It is more specific than gratuit. It often appears in banking, shipping, or administrative contexts. It implies the base service may have a cost, but certain added fees are waived.

Examples:

• Retrait sans frais dans tous les distributeurs. – “Withdrawal without fees at all ATMs.”
• Livraison sans frais à partir de 50 euros. – “Free delivery from 50 euros.”
• Résiliation sans frais. – “Cancellation without fees.”
• Paiement en plusieurs fois sans frais. – “Payment in instalments without fees.”
• Compte bancaire sans frais mensuels. – “Bank account without monthly fees.”

Synonyms:

• frais offerts – fees waived
• sans commission – without commission
• surcharge incluse – surcharge included (opposite)

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Offert – given as a gift or included

Offert means “offered” or “provided at no extra cost.” It often appears in promotions. Unlike gratuit, it suggests a gesture of goodwill. The item or service is usually included with something else.

Examples:

• Une boisson offerte avec le menu. – “A drink included with the meal.”
• Le petit-déjeuner est offert. – “Breakfast is free.” (included in the room price)
• Deux nuits offertes pour une réservation de cinq nuits. – “Two nights free for a booking of five nights.”
• Cahier d’exercices offert. – “Workbook provided free.”
• Révision offerte pour toute commande. – “Revision free with any order.”

Synonyms:

• cadeau – gift (noun)
• inclus – included
• fourni – supplied

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Common pitfalls and practical usage

• Do not use libre for price. Say gratuit or offert.
• Do not use gratuit for freedom. Say libre.
• Sans frais is not a synonym for gratuit when the main service is free. Use gratuit for the service itself.

Combined forms appear often:

• Libre et gratuit – free as in freedom and price (common for open-source software)
• Gratuit et sans frais – entirely free with no extra charges

Other expressions worth knowing:

• À l’œil – informal, “for free” (e.g., Je l’ai eu à l’œil. – “I got it for free.”)
• Pour rien – for nothing (e.g., Ce n’est pas pour rien. – “It’s not for nothing.” but pour rien can mean free in context)
• En prime – as a bonus (e.g., Une housse en prime. – “A cover as a bonus.”)
• Cadeau – gift, often used in signage (Entrée cadeau is not standard; say entrée offerte)

Quick reference table of main uses:

French term	Core meaning	Typical context
libre	freedom, availability	software, seats, time, permission
gratuit	no payment	tickets, samples, downloads
sans frais	no added costs	banking, shipping, cancellations
offert	included as a gift	meals, promotions, extras

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Summary

• Libre = freedom, not cost.
• Gratuit = no money asked.
• Sans frais = no extra charges.
• Offert = given away, often with a purchase.
• Use the right word to avoid confusion between liberty, price, and conditions.