prendre en compte
to take into consideration
Use it when a specific fact or detail is actually changing your final plan or decision.
In 15 Seconds
- To include a factor in your decision-making process.
- Used for planning, debating, and showing you are listening.
- A more active version of simply 'considering' something.
Meaning
This phrase means you are acknowledging a specific fact or detail and letting it influence your decision or plan. It is like adding a new ingredient to a recipe because you know someone has an allergy; you aren't just aware of it, you are acting on it.
Key Examples
3 of 6Planning a dinner with a friend
Je vais prendre en compte tes allergies pour le menu.
I will take your allergies into consideration for the menu.
In a professional budget meeting
Nous devons prendre en compte l'inflation cette année.
We must take inflation into account this year.
Texting a friend about a late arrival
Désolé, je n'ai pas pris en compte les bouchons !
Sorry, I didn't account for the traffic jams!
Cultural Background
This phrase is deeply rooted in the French educational system's emphasis on 'le plan' (the plan). Whether writing an essay or planning a city, the French prioritize 'taking into account' every possible variable to create a harmonious result. It reflects a societal respect for thoroughness and intellectual rigor.
Don't forget the 'en'!
If you just say 'prendre compte', it sounds like you're trying to grab a bank account. The 'en' is essential for the meaning.
The 'Realize' Trap
Be careful! 'Se rendre compte' means 'to realize'. 'Prendre en compte' means 'to consider'. They look similar but are used very differently.
In 15 Seconds
- To include a factor in your decision-making process.
- Used for planning, debating, and showing you are listening.
- A more active version of simply 'considering' something.
What It Means
Think of your mind as a giant, invisible spreadsheet. When you prendre en compte something, you are adding a new row to that sheet. You aren't just noticing a fact; you are giving it weight. It is the difference between hearing a suggestion and actually letting that suggestion change your mind. It implies a level of thoughtfulness and responsibility. If you are planning a picnic and you prends en compte the rain, you bring an umbrella. If you don't, you just get wet. It is a very active, logical way of processing information.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like the verb prendre. It is a standard -re verb, so it conjugates normally. You usually follow it with a noun or a noun phrase. For example, Je prends en compte ton avis (I am taking your opinion into consideration). You can also use it in the past tense to show that a decision was well-thought-out: J'ai pris en compte tous les risques. It is a very sturdy, reliable phrase that fits into almost any sentence structure. Just remember to keep the en in the middle; it acts as the bridge between the action and the result.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for professional and personal planning. In a business meeting, it makes you sound organized and respectful of others' input. 'We must prendre en compte the budget.' At home, it shows you are a considerate friend or partner. If you're choosing a movie, you might prendre en compte the fact that your friend hates horror films. It is also perfect for giving feedback or explaining why you made a certain choice. It is the ultimate 'adulting' phrase because it shows you are looking at the big picture.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for simple, physical actions. You don't prendre en compte a fork to eat your cake. That would sound like you're performing a scientific study on the fork. Also, avoid using it when you just mean 'to realize.' For that, you want se rendre compte. If you say Je me prends en compte, you're saying you're taking yourself into consideration, which sounds a bit like a self-help mantra. Finally, don't use it for 'to understand.' It’s about the *application* of knowledge, not just the grasp of it.
Cultural Background
French culture places a high value on 'la logique' and 'la synthèse.' From a young age, French students are taught to weigh different arguments before reaching a conclusion. This phrase is a linguistic reflection of that mindset. It’s part of the 'Cartesian' spirit—named after René Descartes—where everything is analyzed and accounted for. Using this phrase correctly makes you sound like someone who values reason and balance. It’s the verbal equivalent of a perfectly balanced scale.
Common Variations
The most common variation is tenir compte de. It is slightly more formal and literally means 'to hold account of.' While prendre en compte feels like the act of *starting* to consider something, tenir compte de feels like you are *maintaining* that consideration throughout a process. You might also hear considérer, but that is often too simple. If you want to sound like a true local, stick with prendre en compte for your daily deliberations.
Usage Notes
This phrase is highly versatile across all registers. The main 'gotcha' is confusing it with 'se rendre compte' (to realize), which is a reflexive verb.
Don't forget the 'en'!
If you just say 'prendre compte', it sounds like you're trying to grab a bank account. The 'en' is essential for the meaning.
The 'Realize' Trap
Be careful! 'Se rendre compte' means 'to realize'. 'Prendre en compte' means 'to consider'. They look similar but are used very differently.
The Bureaucracy Secret
If a French official says they will 'prendre en compte' your request, it's a polite way of saying they've added it to their pile. It doesn't always mean a 'yes', but it means you're in the system!
Examples
6Je vais prendre en compte tes allergies pour le menu.
I will take your allergies into consideration for the menu.
Shows the speaker is being considerate of the friend's needs.
Nous devons prendre en compte l'inflation cette année.
We must take inflation into account this year.
A standard way to introduce a necessary variable in business.
Désolé, je n'ai pas pris en compte les bouchons !
Sorry, I didn't account for the traffic jams!
A common excuse for being late in a busy city like Paris.
Mon chat ne prend jamais en compte mon besoin de dormir.
My cat never takes my need to sleep into consideration.
Uses a formal phrase for a silly, relatable domestic situation.
Il est important que tu prennes en compte mes sentiments.
It is important that you take my feelings into account.
Uses the subjunctive mood to express a necessity in a relationship.
On a pris en compte le temps de trajet pour ne pas rater le train.
We took the travel time into account so as not to miss the train.
Reflects practical planning and foresight.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence.
Pour organiser la fête, nous ___ en compte le budget de chacun.
'Nous' requires the 'ons' ending in the present tense.
Complete the phrase with the missing small word.
Il faut prendre ___ compte les avis des clients.
The fixed collocation is 'prendre en compte'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Prendre en compte'
Used with friends for simple plans.
Prends en compte mon régime !
Perfect for daily life and work.
On prend en compte la météo.
Used in official reports or speeches.
Le gouvernement prend en compte les critiques.
When to use 'Prendre en compte'
Work Meeting
Considering the deadline.
Cooking
Accounting for a guest's diet.
Travel
Factoring in flight delays.
Relationships
Valuing a partner's opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral to formal. You can use it with your boss or your best friend without sounding strange.
'Considérer' is more passive, like looking at something. 'Prendre en compte' is more active, like including it in a calculation.
Yes, but usually you take their *opinions* or *needs* into account, rather than the person themselves. For example: Je prends en compte tes besoins.
No, unlike tenir compte de, prendre en compte is followed directly by the object. Example: Prendre en compte le prix.
Use the auxiliary 'avoir'. Example: J'ai pris en compte tes remarques.
Not exactly, but in very casual speech, people might just say calculer. Example: Je l'ai même pas calculé (I didn't even acknowledge/consider him).
Only if the object represents a factor. You can prendre en compte the size of a table when moving, but you don't prendre en compte the table to move it.
Tenir compte de is slightly more formal and emphasizes the ongoing consideration of a fact throughout a process.
Extremely common in essays, reports, and emails to show logical progression.
Yes, that is a perfect synonym, though it is slightly longer and more formal.
Related Phrases
tenir compte de
se rendre compte
prendre en considération
faire attention à
intégrer
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