transférer

Transférer is a French verb meaning to move something from one place to another, to pass or convey something to another person or system, or to forward information, funds, or responsibilities. It is used in physical contexts (transferring objects), in computing (transférer un fichier, transférer des données), in telecommunications (transférer un appel), and in administrative or financial contexts (transférer des fonds, transférer un dossier à quelqu’un).

Etymology and forms: the verb comes from the Latin transferre, formed by trans- “across” and ferre “to bear.” It is conjugated as a regular -er verb, with spelling adjustments in certain forms to preserve pronunciation. In the present tense: je transfère, tu transfères, il transfère; nous transférons, vous transférez, ils transfèrent. The past participle is transféré; the gerund is transférant. The infinitive, future, and conditional are transférer, transférerai, transférerais, etc. The noun corresponding to the act is transfert; the adjective meaning “transferable” is transférable, and the noun for the property is transférabilité.

Usage notes: transférer is transitive and can take a direct object (transférer un fichier, transférer des fonds) or a indirect object (transférer quelque chose à quelqu’un). It also appears in specialized registers, such as IT, banking, and customer service, where it often means to reroute or reassign. The related noun transfert is common in phrases like “un transfert de fonds” or “un transfert d’appel.”

See also: transfert, transfertable, transférabilité.