garde

/ɡaʁd/garder
1.
verbInd1stPresSing1, 3

keep

hold on to

look after

Je garde les clés pour ce soir.

I'm keeping the keys for tonight.

Synonyms:conserver, retenir, s'occuper de
2.
nounfeminine

childcare / childcare arrangement

custody (legal)

on-call duty; watch / shift (e.g., in a hospital, police)

Il a obtenu la garde des enfants.

He was awarded custody of the children.

Synonyms:mode de garde, surveillance, astreinte

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Garde can be a feminine noun meaning "guard," "custody," "care," or "watch" (e.g., "la garde"). It is also the present tense conjugation for "je," "tu," and "il/elle/on" of the verb "garder" (to keep, to guard).

USAGE

As a noun: "prendre garde" (to be careful), "garde d'enfants" (childcare), "garde à vue" (police custody). As a verb: "Je garde ton secret" (I'll keep your secret), "Il garde la maison" (He guards the house).

TRAPS

Carefully distinguish between "la garde" (the feminine noun) and "garde" as a verb form. The noun is always feminine, while the verb changes meaning based on the subject.

garde - French Definition & Examples