Here's a short lesson about To rest vs Rester...
Last week, during an online French lesson, my American student Janine asked me a question that made me smile: “So, if I’m tired, can I just say je veux rester?”
Ah, if only French were that easy! But no — here lurks another of those sneaky false friends that trip up even the most enthusiastic learners.
The truth about to rest
In French, the verb to rest is se reposer. It’s reflexive, which means you need the little me/te/se before the verb.
😴 Je veux me reposer après ma randonnée au Pas du Roc.
→ I want to rest after my hike at Pas du Roc.🛋️ Elle se repose dans le salon.
→ She is resting in the living room.
No French person will ever say rester when they mean “to take a nap” or “to relax”. If you do, you’ll sound like you’re glued to your chair instead of lying down with your eyes closed.
The truth about rester
The verb rester means to stay, to remain. Think of hotels, train stations, Airbnbs, or just sticking around in one place.
🏡 Je veux rester en Haute-Savoie.
→ I want to stay in Haute-Savoie.🛑 Il est resté à la maison ce week-end.
→ He stayed at home this weekend.🚉 Nous restons ici jusqu’au prochain train.
→ We’re staying here until the next train.
So if you tell your French host: “J’ai besoin de rester”, don’t expect them to offer you a bed for a nap. They’ll think you mean you want to stay longer in their house. Which might get you a raised eyebrow…
To rest vs Rester: Quick cheat sheet
A few funny mix-ups
❌ Je veux rester dix minutes.
→ You’re telling someone you want to stay for ten minutes.✅ Je veux me reposer dix minutes.
→ You mean you want to rest for ten minutes.
❌ At the hotel: Est-ce que je peux me reposer une nuit de plus ?
→ Sounds like you want to lie down in the lobby for one more night.✅ Est-ce que je peux rester une nuit de plus ?
→ Correct: “Can I stay one more night?”
❌ On a hike: Je veux rester un peu.
→ You’re saying you want to stay in the middle of the trail.✅ Je veux me reposer un peu.
→ You mean you want to sit down and catch your breath.
To rest vs Rester: The moral of the story
If you’re tired, say se reposer.
If you’re not moving, say rester.
And if you’re both staying and resting? Well, congratulations: you’ve mastered not just French verbs, but also the art of being on holiday in France. 🍷🧀🇫🇷
