100+ most used verbs in French
Verbs are an important part of the French language, as almost every sentence requires one.
Having a sound knowledge of French verbs would help accelerate your understanding of French, as verbs, adjectives and adverbs are some of the most used words in French.
If you are a beginner and you are wondering what French verbs to learn first, here is a
list of more than one hundred French verbs with their English equivalent.
The first 20 verbs that are conjugated in their present tense form with examples.
Etre (To be)
Je suis = I am
Tu es = you are
Il est = he is
Nous sommes = we are
Vous êtes = you are
Ils sont = They are
Example
Je suis étudiant(e)
I am a student.
Avoir (to have)
J’ai = I am
Tu as = you are
Il a = he is
Nous avons = we have
Vous avez = you have
Ils ont = they have
Example
Nous avons faim.
We are hungry.
Faire (to do/to make)
Je fais = I do
Tu fais = you do
Il fait = he does
Nous faison = we do
Vous faites = you do
Ils font = they do
Example
Je fais la cuisine.
I am cooking.
Parler (to speak)
Je parle = I speak
Tu parles = you speak
Il parle = he speaks
Nous parlons = we speak
Vous parlez = you speak
Ils palent = they speak
Example
Tu parles Français?
Do you speak French?
Venir (to come)
Je viens = I come
Tu viens = you come
Il vient = he comes
Nous venons = we come
Vous venez = you come
Ils viennent = they come
Example
Il vient demain.
He is coming tomorrow.
Aller (to go)
Je vais= I go
Tu vas= you go
Il va= he goes
Nous allons= we go
Vous allez= you go
Ils vont = they go
Example
Comment ca va?
How are you?(literally how is it going?)
Écrire (to write)
J’écris = I write
Tu écris= you write
Il écrit= he writes
Nous écrivons= we write
Vous écrivez= you write
Ils écrivent= they write
Example
Qu’est-ce que tu fais? What are you doing?
J’écrit. I am writing.
Lire (to read)
Je lis = I read
Tu lis = you read
Il lit = he reads
Nous lisons = we read
Vous lisez = you read
Ils lisent = they read
Example
Lit ce roman.
Read this novel.
S’appeler (to be called)
Je m’appelle = I am called
Tu t’appelles = you are called
Il s’appelle = he is called
Nous nous appelons = we are called
Vous vous appelez = you are called
Ils s'appellent = they are called
Example
Elle s’appelle Mary.
Her name is Mary.
Apprendre (to learn)
J’apprends = I learn
Tu apprends = you learn
Il apprend = he learns
Nous apprenons = we learn
Vous apprenez = you learn
Ils apprennent = they learn
Examples
J’apprends français.
I am learning French.
Écouter (to listen)
J’écoute = I listen
Tu écoutes = you listen
Il écoute = he listens
Nous écoutons = we listen
Vous écoutez = you listen
Ils écoutent = they listen
Example
J’aime écouter de la musique.
I love listening to music
Aimer (to love)
J’aime = I love
Tu aimes = you love
Il aime = he loves
Nous aimons = we love
Vous aimez = you love
Ils aiment = they love
Example
Je t’aime.
I love you.
Dormir (to sleep)
Je dors= I sleep
Tu dors = you sleep
Il dort = he sleeps
Nous dormons = we sleep
Vous dormez = you sleep
Ils dorment = they sleep
Example
Je dors tôt.
I sleep early.
Pouvoir (to be able)
Je peux = I can
Tu peux = you can
Il peut = he can
Nous pouvons = we can
Vous pouvez = you can
Ils peuvent = they can
Example
Je ne peux pas.
I can't.
Vouloir (to want)
Je veux = I want
Tu veux = you want
Il veut = he wants
Nous voulons = we want
Vous voulez = you want
Ils veulent = they want
Example
Ils veulent une voiture blanche.
They want a white car.
Manger (to eat)
Je mange = I eat
Tu manges = you eat
Il mange = he eats
Nous mangeons = we eat
Vous mangez = you eat
Ils mangent = they eat
Example
Nous mangeons du riz.
We are eating rice.
Boire (to drink)
Je bois
Tu bois
Il boit
Nous buvons
Vous buvez
Ils boivent
Example
Qu’est-ce que tu bois? = what are you drinking?
Je bois du lait. = I am drinking milk.
Savoir (to know)
Je sais = I know
Tu sais = you know
Il sait = he knows
Nous savons = we know
Vous savez = you know
Ils savent = they know
Example
Oui, je sais.
Yes, I know.
Connaître (to know)
Je connais = I know
Tu connais = you know
Il connaît = he knows
Nous connaissons = we know
Vous connaissez = you know
Ils connaissent = they know
Example
Connaissez-vous M Bernard?
Do you know Mr Bernard?
Comprendre (to understand)
Je comprends = I understand
Tu comprends = you understand
Il comprend= he understands
Nous comprenons = we understand
Vous comprenez = you understand
Ils comprennent= they understand
Example
Excusez-moi monsieur, je ne comprends pas.
Excuse me sir, I don't understand.
Other are:
Laver(to wash)
Laisser (to leave)
Haïr (to hate)
Attendre (to wait)
Amener (to bring)
Aider (to help)
Regarder (to look at )
Entendre (to hear)
Employer (to employ)
Entrer (to enter)
Voir (to see)
Danser (to dance)
Chanter. (To sing)
Appeler (to call)
Partir (to leave)
Payer (to pay)
Penser (to think)
Perdre (to lose)
Falloir (to have to)
Finir (to finish)
Fêter (to celebrate)
Fermer (to shut)
Ouvrir (to open)
Oublier (to foget )
Jouer (to play)
Jeter (to throw)
Apporter (to bring/take)
Vendre (to sell)
Acheter (to buy)
Habiller (to dress)
Habiter (to stay)
Hésiter (to hesitate)
Remercier (to thank)
Remplir (to fill)
Honorer (to honour)
Sortir (to go out)
Souhaiter (to wish for)
Sourire (to smile)
Juger (to judge)
Rire (to laugh)
Pleurer. (to cry)
Pleuvoir (to rain)
e souvenir (to remember)
Répondre (respond)
Rappeler. (to recall)
Prendre (to take)
Mettre. (to put)
Donner (to give)
Naître (to be born)
Mourir (to die)
Nager (to swim)
**Paraître (**to appear/emerge)
Manquer (to miss)
**Marcher (**to march)
Marier (to marry)
Mentir( to lie)
Mettre (to put)
Dire (to say)
Devoir (to owe)
Envoyer (to send)
Tomber (to fall)
Tenir (to hold)
Commencer (to start)
Croire( to believe)
Choisir (to choose)
Chercher (to look for)
Battre. (to beat)
Grandir (to grow)
Gagner (to win)
Balayer (to sweep)
Bouger (to move)
Continuer. (to continue)
Demander (to demand)
Vivre (to live)
Voler (to steal)
Vieillir (to grow old)
Visiter (to visit)
Découvrir (to discouver)
Monter (to climb)
Descendre (to descend)
Devenir (to become)
Contacter (to contact)
Rappeler (to recall)
Réfléchir (to think)
Regarder (to look)
Constuire (to build)
Conclure (to conclude)
Rentrer (to go back)
Servir
Sentir (to feel)
Séparer (to separate)
Libérer (to liberate)
