ouvrir la porte

You need to conjugate the verb ouvrir. It is an irregular verb, so it takes a little practice. For "I open," you say j'ouvre. For "you open" (informal), use tu ouvres. You usually follow it directly with la porte. If you are opening it for someone else, add the word à. For example, j'ouvre la porte à mon ami. It is a very direct and useful structure. Don't forget the l' if you use it in the past tense: j'ai ouvert la porte.

Use it when someone knocks on your apartment door. Use it at a shop when you are the first one there. It works perfectly when you are trying to be polite. If you see someone struggling with heavy grocery bags, this is your moment. You can say, "I will open the door for you." It also fits perfectly in professional settings. A manager might say a new project will ouvrir la porte to more funding. It is versatile and always appropriate.

Do not use this phrase for electronic devices. You do not ouvrir a light, a computer, or a television. For those, you must use the verb allumer. Also, be careful not to confuse it with déverrouiller. That specifically means "to unlock." If the door is locked, you have to do that first! Finally, don't use it if you are only opening the door a tiny bit. That specific action is called entrouvrir.

In France, politeness is a major social pillar. Holding the door is a standard rule of politesse. If you walk through a door, always look behind you. It is common to hold it for the next person, even if they are a few steps away. If you don't, you might get a frustrated sigh! In the Paris Metro, some older trains have doors that don't open automatically. You actually have to lift a metal latch yourself. It’s a classic "tourist test" to see if you know how to ouvrir la porte manually.

You will often hear laisser la porte ouverte. This means "to leave the door open." People use this when they want to stay open to suggestions. Another common one is frapper à la porte, which means "to knock." If you want someone to open up, you usually knock first. You might also hear pousser la porte (to push) or tirer la porte (to pull). These are the basic instructions you'll see on shop signs everywhere.