French Phrase
Ils peuvent économiser de l'argent.
Meaning
‘They can save money.’ The sentence expresses the ability or possibility for a group of people to set aside money, usually for future use or to reduce expenses.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing financial habits, budgeting tips, or when encouraging a group to be more economical. It works in both formal and informal contexts, such as a meeting about company expenses or a casual chat about personal finance.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilspeuventéconomiserdel'argent.
Subject pronoun (Ils)
Third‑person plural masculine pronoun used for a group of males or a mixed‑gender group.
Verb pouvoir (peuvent)
Present‑tense conjugation of the modal verb pouvoir for ‘they’; it is followed by an infinitive to express ability or possibility.
Infinitive after pouvoir (économiser)
When pouvoir is used, the next verb stays in the infinitive. Here it means ‘to save (money)’.
Partitive article (de l')
‘de l’’ is the partitive article used before a singular, uncountable noun that begins with a vowel or mute h. It translates to ‘some’ in English.
Noun (argent)
Masculine singular noun meaning ‘money’. With the partitive article it refers to an indefinite amount of money.
🗨In Conversation
Vous pensez que votre équipe pourra réduire les coûts cette année ?
Do you think your team will be able to cut costs this year?
Oui, ils peuvent économiser de l'argent en limitant les déplacements inutiles.
Yes, they can save money by limiting unnecessary travel.
✕Common Mistakes
Ils peut économiser de l'argent.
The verb must agree with the plural subject; use ‘peuvent’ not ‘peut’.
Ils peuvent économiser le argent.
‘Argent’ is uncountable here, so the partitive article ‘de l’’ is required, not the definite article ‘le’.
Ils peuvent économiser l'argent.
Using ‘l'argent’ implies saving a specific sum that is already identified, which changes the meaning. Use the partitive ‘de l'argent’ for a general amount.
↔Alternatives
Ils sont capables d'économiser de l'argent.
They are capable of saving money.
Ils peuvent mettre de l'argent de côté.
They can set money aside.
Ils peuvent réduire leurs dépenses.
They can reduce their expenses.
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘économiser de l'argent’ is a very common expression when talking about budgeting or frugality. The partitive article ‘de l’’ signals an indefinite amount, which is typical when referring to money, food, or other uncountable items. In formal business settings, you might hear ‘réduire les coûts’ or ‘optimiser les dépenses’ as more corporate‑sounding alternatives.