What does dépense in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word dépense in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use dépense in French.

The word dépense in French means expenditure, expenses, consumption, expenditure, spend, use, spend, use, exert yourself, exert yourself, equipment costs, investment costs, operating costs, running costs, running expenses, operating expenses, energy expenditure, physical exercise, physical exertion, not worry about how much things cost, cost item, encourage spending, have to be careful with money, have to keep your spending under control, without worrying about the expense, without worrying about the cost. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word dépense

expenditure

nom féminin (action de dépenser) (usually uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Compte ton argent, fais attention à tes dépenses.
Count your money, keep on top of your expenditure.

expenses

nom féminin (frais)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Je fais le récapitulatif de mes dépenses.
I am making a summary of my expenses.

consumption

nom féminin (consommation)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La dépense en essence de cette voiture est importante.
This car has a high fuel consumption rate.

expenditure

nom féminin (emploi, utilisation) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce travail demande une grande dépense de temps.
This job requires great expenditure of time.

spend

verbe transitif (utiliser en achetant [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Nous avons dépensé beaucoup d'argent pour rénover notre maison de campagne.
We spent a lot of money to renovate our house in the country.

use

verbe transitif (utiliser, consommer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ce chauffage électrique dépense beaucoup d'électricité.
This electric heating uses lots of electricity.

spend, use

verbe transitif (employer [qch] à faire [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Caroline dépense son temps à aider les nécessiteux.
Caroline spends her time helping the needy.

exert yourself

verbe pronominal (faire du sport)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Tom et ses petits camarades se dépensent beaucoup.
Tom and his classmates exert themselves a lot.

exert yourself

verbe pronominal (se donner du mal)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Le nouveau patron se dépense beaucoup pour faire repartir l'entreprise.
The new boss is exerting himself greatly to get the business back on track.

equipment costs

nom féminin (frais de matériel)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les dépenses d'équipement ont un budget à part.

investment costs

nom féminin (frais de biens)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les dépenses d'investissement s'amortissent sur plusieurs années.

operating costs, running costs, running expenses, operating expenses

nom féminin (achat de fournitures courantes)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les dépenses de fonctionnement comprennent les fournitures de bureau.

energy expenditure

nom féminin (coût de l'énergie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

physical exercise, physical exertion

nom féminin (défoulement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Faire du sport 2 fois par semaine lui assure une dépense physique suffisante.

not worry about how much things cost

locution verbale (dépenser sans compter)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pendant les vacances, mes amis ne regardent pas à la dépense et sortent tous les soirs.

cost item

nom masculin (type d'achats)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

encourage spending

locution verbale (inciter [qqn] à dépenser)

Les crédits à la consommation nous poussent à la dépense.

have to be careful with money, have to keep your spending under control

locution verbale (dépenser avec parcimonie)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ce couple de fonctionnaires peut partir en vacances mais regarde à la dépense.

without worrying about the expense, without worrying about the cost

locution adverbiale (sans compter)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vincent et Julie marièrent leurs enfants sans regarder à la dépense.

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So now that you know more about the meaning of dépense in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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