laisserai

Laisserai is the first-person singular future tense form of the French verb laisser. In English it generally translates as “I will leave” or “I will allow,” depending on the object or infinitive that accompanies it.

Etymology and form: The verb laisser comes from Old French laisser, with roots that trace back to Latin laxare meaning to loosen or release. The futur simple ending for je is -ai, yielding laisserai. This form is used with a subject “je” to express a future intention or promise.

Usage and constructions: Laisser meaning can be physical, as in leaving something behind, or figurative, meaning to permit or allow. When followed by an infinitive, the structure laisser + infinitive expresses letting someone do something, for example: Je laisserai parler le témoin (I will let the witness speak). The simple form laisserai can appear in statements about future actions, promises, or decisions involving the speaker’s actions.

Common contexts:

- Physical leaving: Je laisserai mes clés sur la table. (I will leave my keys on the table.)

- Allowing or permitting: Je te laisserai choisir. (I will let you choose.)

- Delegating or deferring responsibility: Je laisserai faire les experts. (I will let the experts handle it.)

Usage notes: In everyday speech, the near future often uses aller + infinitive (je vais laisser) rather than the simple futur, but laisserai remains standard in written French and in formal or literary contexts. The meaning changes with the object or infinitive, so attention to the following words is important for correct interpretation.