100 Most Common French Verbs

Vocabulary flashcards for the 100 most common French verbs, detailing meanings, irregular verb indicators, and example usage.

être*

To be (*irregular verb). Example: Je suis ici. (I am here.)

avoir*

To have (*irregular verb). Example: J'ai faim. (I am hungry/I have hunger.)

aller*

To go (*irregular verb). Example: Je vais au travail. (I'm going to work.)

faire*

To do/make (*irregular verb). Example: Tu fais quoi ? (What are you doing?)

dire*

To say/tell (*irregular verb). Example: Dis-moi la vérité. (Tell me the truth.)

pouvoir*

To be able to (*irregular verb). Example: Je peux t'aider. (I can help you.)

vouloir*

To want (*irregular verb). Example: Je veux un café. (I want a coffee.)

savoir*

To know (facts) (*irregular verb). Example: Je sais nager. (I know how to swim.)

voir*

To see (*irregular verb). Example: Je vois un oiseau. (I see a bird.)

devoir*

To have to/must (*irregular verb). Example: On doit partir. (We must leave.)

venir*

She is coming tomorrow. (*irregular verb). Example: Elle vient demain. (She is coming tomorrow.)

suivre*

To follow (*irregular verb). Example: Suivez le guide. (Follow the guide.)

parler

To speak. Example: Parlez-vous français ? (Do you speak French?)

prendre*

To take (*irregular verb). Example: Je prends le bus. (I take the bus.)

croire*

To believe (*irregular verb). Example: Je te crois. (I believe you.)

aimer

To love/like. Example: J'aime ce film. (I love this movie.)

falloir*

To be necessary (*irregular verb). Example: Il faut dormir. (It is necessary to sleep.)

passer

To pass/spend time. Example: Je passe chez toi. (I'm stopping by your place.)

mettre*

To put/place (*irregular verb). Example: Mets tes chaussures. (Put on your shoes.)

regarder

To watch/look. Example: Regarde ça ! (Look at that!)

penser

To think. Example: Je pense que oui. (I think so.)

revenir*

To come back (*irregular verb). Example: Je reviens vite. (I'm coming back quickly.)

connaître*

To know (people) (*irregular verb). Example: Je connais Marie. (I know Marie.)

partir*

To leave (*irregular verb). Example: Le train part. (The train is leaving.)

trouver

To find. Example: J'ai trouvé tes clés. (I found your keys.)

tenir*

To hold (*irregular verb). Example: Tiens ma main. (Hold my hand.)

demander

To ask. Example: Demande à la dame. (Ask the lady.)

comprendre*

To understand (*irregular verb). Example: Je comprends. (I understand.)

rendre

To return (sth). Example: Rends-moi mon livre. (Give me back my book.)

sortir*

To go out (*irregular verb). Example: On sort ce soir ? (Are we going out tonight?)

entendre

To hear. Example: J'entends un bruit. (I hear a noise.)

attendre

To wait. Example: Attends une minute. (Wait a minute.)

vivre*

To live (*irregular verb). Example: Il vit à Lyon. (He lives in Lyon.)

chercher

To look for. Example: Je cherche mon sac. (I'm looking for my bag.)

répondre

To answer. Example: Réponds-moi. (Answer me.)

perdre

To lose. Example: J'ai perdu mon temps. (I lost my time.)

arriver

To arrive. Example: Ils arrivent bientôt. (They are arriving soon.)

sentir*

To feel/smell (*irregular verb). Example: Je me sens bien. (I feel good.)

appeler

To call. Example: Appelle-moi demain. (Call me tomorrow.)

essayer

To try. Example: Essaie encore. (Try again.)

manger

To eat. Example: On mange à midi. (We eat at noon.)

boire*

To drink (*irregular verb). Example: Je bois de l'eau. (I am drinking water.)

marcher

To walk/work. Example: Ça marche ! (That works!)

courir*

To run (*irregular verb). Example: Il court vite. (He runs fast.)

dormir*

To sleep (*irregular verb). Example: Je dors peu. (I sleep little.)

aider

To help. Example: Aide-moi, s'il te plaît. (Help me, please.)

devenir*

To become (*irregular verb). Example: Elle devient prof. (She is becoming a teacher.)

sembler

To seem. Example: Ça semble vrai. (It seems true.)

retenir*

To retain/keep (*irregular verb). Example: Retiens ce mot. (Remember/keep this word.)

oublier

To forget. Example: N'oublie pas ! (Don't forget!)

travailler

To work. Example: Je travaille ici. (I work here.)

gagner

To win/earn. Example: Tu gagnes le prix. (You win the prize.)

acheter

To buy. Example: J'achète du pain. (I'm buying bread.)

vendre

To sell. Example: Il vend sa maison. (He is selling his house.)

arrêter

To stop. Example: Arrêtez le bus ! (Stop the bus!)

finir

To finish. Example: Je finis mon café. (I'm finishing my coffee.)

choisir

To choose. Example: Choisis un plat. (Choose a dish.)

réussir

To succeed. Example: Tu vas réussir. (You are going to succeed.)

monter

To climb/go up. Example: Monte dans la voiture. (Get in the car.)

descendre

To go down. Example: Je descends à pied. (I'm going down on foot.)

montrer

To show. Example: Montre-moi la photo. (Show me the photo.)

ouvrir*

To open (*irregular verb). Example: Ouvre la porte. (Open the door.)

fermer

To close. Example: Ferme la fenêtre. (Close the window.)

écrire*

To write (*irregular verb). Example: Écris une lettre. (Write a letter.)

lire*

To read (*irregular verb). Example: Je lis le journal. (I read the newspaper.)

recevoir*

To receive (*irregular verb). Example: J'ai reçu un colis. (I received a package.)

servir*

To serve (*irregular verb). Example: Le serveur nous sert. (The waiter serves us.)

rire*

To laugh (*irregular verb). Example: On a beaucoup ri. (We laughed a lot.)

sourire*

To smile (*irregular verb). Example: Elle sourit tout le temps. (She smiles all the time.)

pleurer

To cry. Example: Pourquoi tu pleures ? (Why are you crying?)

donner

To give. Example: Donne-moi ça. (Give me that.)

espérer

To hope. Example: J'espère réussir. (I hope to succeed.)

craindre*

To fear (*irregular verb). Example: Je crains la pluie. (I fear the rain.)

chanter

To sing. Example: Nous chantons ensemble. (We sing together.)

danser

To dance. Example: Veux-tu danser ? (Do you want to dance?)

apprendre*

To learn (*irregular verb). Example: J'apprends le piano. (I'm learning piano.)

rejoindre*

To join (*irregular verb). Example: Rejoins-nous ! (Join us!)

commencer

To start. Example: Le cours commence. (The class is starting.)

habiter

To live (reside). Example: J'habite à Paris. (I live in Paris.)

inviter

To invite. Example: Je t'invite. (I'm inviting/treating you.)

écouter

To listen. Example: Écoute-moi. (Listen to me.)

utiliser

To use. Example: Utilisez ce code. (Use this code.)

partager

To share. Example: On partage tout. (We share everything.)

préparer

To prepare. Example: Je prépare le dîner. (I'm preparing dinner.)

offrir*

To offer (*irregular verb). Example: Je t'offre un verre. (I'm buying you a drink.)

conduire*

To drive (*irregular verb). Example: Je conduis bien. (I drive well.)

changer

To change. Example: Change d'avis. (Change your mind.)

décider

To decide. Example: Décide-toi ! (Make up your mind!)

paraître*

To appear (*irregular verb). Example: Il paraît triste. (He appears sad.)

permettre*

To allow (*irregular verb). Example: C'est permis. (It is allowed.)

battre*

To beat/hit (*irregular verb). Example: Mon cœur bat. (My heart beats.)

occuper

To occupy. Example: Je m'occupe de ça. (I'm taking care of that.)

reconnaître*

To recognize (*irregular verb). Example: Je te reconnais. (I recognize you.)

quitter

To leave (sth). Example: Quitte la pièce. (Leave the room.)

produire*

To produce (*irregular verb). Example: Il produit du vin. (It produces wine.)

plaire*

To please (*irregular verb). Example: Ça me plaît. (I like that.)

valoir*

To be worth (*irregular verb). Example: Ça vaut le coup. (It's worth it.)

naître*

To be born (*irregular verb). Example: Je suis né ici. (I was born here.)

mourir*

To die (*irregular verb). Example: La fleur meurt. (The flower is dying.)

visiter

To visit (places). Example: Visitez le Louvre. (Visit the Louvre.)