Résumé : The far infrared spectrum of cis-methyl formate has been recorded on the AILES beamline of the synchrotron SOLEIL using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer coupled to a long path cell. The very weak fundamental band associated with the methyl-top torsion mode (ν 18) was observed. The frequency analysis was performed using the rho axis method, and the microwave and millimeter-wave data from the literature. A precise determination of the band origins (ν18A 132.4303 cm -1 and ν18E 131.8445 cm -1) and of the barrier height V 3 370.7398 (58) cm -1 have been obtained. The intensity of the ν 18 fundamental band was determined to be 3.4 × 10 -21 cm -1(molecule cm -2) at 297 K, equally shared among A-A and E-E transitions, thus leading to a dipole moment component μ c (3) equal to 0.0483 D. The results were compared with the ab initio calcula-tions of Senent [Astrophys. J. 627, 567 (2005)]10.1086/430201. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.