regardez

Regardez is a French verb form derived from regarder, meaning to look or to watch. It is the second-person plural form of the verb in the present indicative (vous regardez) and, more commonly, the imperative form used to command someone or a group to look. In written French, the imperative is typically written as “Regardez!” with capitalization and an exclamation point. The same spelling in non-imperative contexts corresponds to the present indicative: “Vous regardez” means “you look” or “you are looking.”

Usage of regardez centers on directing attention. It appears in instructions, signs, lectures, and everyday dialogue when someone is being asked to observe something. Examples include: “Regardez ce tableau” (Look at this painting) or “Regardez autour de vous” (Look around you). The phrase can be softened with politeness markers such as “s’il vous plaît” or used more forcefully with emphasis like “Regardez bien.”

Etymology and related forms: regarder comes from Old French regarder and ultimately from Latin regardare, meaning to regard or look at. Related forms include the other conjugations of regarder (je regarde, tu regardes, il regarde, nous regardons, vous regardez, ils regardent) and the noun regard, meaning a look or gaze.

See also: regarder; regard (noun). Usage notes: since regardez is tied to vous, it covers both formal singular (vous) and plural address, depending on context and number of listeners.