French Verbs
Collection of French verbs, including conjugations, usage examples and related vocabulary.
charge
charge
The French word 'charge' is similar to the English 'charge' but it can have different meanings based on context. It can mean a responsibility or duty, as in 'J'ai beaucoup de charges à la maison' (I have lots of responsibilities at home). It also can refer to a load or a burden, as in a physical object being carried. Just like in English, 'charge' in French can also refer to a financial cost or fee. Its usage depends on the context within sentences.
Example sentences with charge →chercher
seek
The word 'chercher' in French is the equivalent of 'seek' in English. It is primarily used as a verb in a similar way as in English, to seek or look for something or someone. It can be used in various contexts and it changes its form according to the tense, gender, and number. For example, 'Je cherche un livre' would translate to 'I am seeking a book'.
Example sentences with chercher →choisir
pick
The French word 'choisir' is used in context in a very similar way to 'pick' in English. It can be used to indicate personal selection or preference in a variety of situations, such as picking a colour ('choisir une couleur') or picking a book ('choisir un livre'). Just as 'pick' can indicate a selection or choice, so can 'choisir' in French.
Example sentences with choisir →comme
like
The French word 'comme' is used similarly to the English word 'like'. It can be used to make comparisons or express likeness between two things. It can also be used to describe how something is happening, similar to the English 'as'. Importantly, it does not carry the connotation of preference or fondness that 'like' does in English, for that the French use 'aimer'.
Example sentences with comme →commencer
start
The French word 'commencer' translates to 'start' in English. It is mainly used to indicate the beginning of an action, event, or process. Just like in English, it can be used in a wide range of contexts, whether you're starting a car, a conversation, or a meal.
Example sentences with commencer →comparer
compare
The French word 'comparer' is a verb that is used very similarly to the English verb 'compare'. It can be used to denote the act of evaluating the similarities and differences between two or more objects, ideas, or individuals. Like in English, 'comparer' can be applied in various contexts, including but not limited to scientific, literary, and everyday colloquial usage.
Example sentences with comparer →comprend
understand
In French, 'comprend' is used to express the concept of understanding something - a situation, a concept, a language. It is more often used in a context where comprehension is required. Just like the English 'understand', it can be used in various sentences in past, present or future tenses.
Example sentences with comprend →concentration
focus
The french translation for 'focus' is 'concentration'. Much like the English word, 'concentration' can be used in various contexts such as personal focus, photographic focus, or even academic focus. It is often used to denote the concentration of attention or energy on something.
Example sentences with concentration →conception
design
The French word 'conception' is used in the same way as 'design' is used in English. It can refer to the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system. It's used in contexts like graphic design, industrial design, web design, and fashion design. Like in English, it can also denote a purposeful or intentional arrangement.
Example sentences with conception →conduire
drive
The French word 'conduire' translates to 'drive' in English and is often used to refer to the act of operating and controlling the direction and speed of a motor vehicle. Just like in English, it can also extend to figurative expressions like 'driving a hard bargain' which in French is 'conduire une dure bataille'. Use it in the context similar to how you would use 'drive' in English.
Example sentences with conduire →considérer
consider
The French word 'considérer' coincides with the English word 'consider'. It is commonly used in many circumstances just as it is in English. You might use it when speaking about thinking carefully about a particular subject or assessing various options before making a decision. Suppose a native French speaker might say, 'Je dois considérer mes options', which translates to 'I need to consider my options'.
Example sentences with considérer →construire
build
The French word 'construire' is a verb that functions similarly to its English translation 'build'. It can be used in various contexts such as construction (e.g., construire une maison - build a house), in relation to ideas or arguments (e.g., construire un argument - build an argument) or in relation to principles (e.g., construire sur des principes solides - build on solid principles). As with many French verbs, it requires conjugation depending on tense and subject.
Example sentences with construire →continuer
continue
The French word 'continuer' is used much the same way as 'continue' in English. It means to keep going or don't stop, it might be after a pause or from a particular point in an activity, course, or event.
Example sentences with continuer →copain
buddy
'Copain' is a colloquial way to refer to a 'buddy' or a 'pal' in French. This term is often used among close friends or peers.
Example sentences with copain →corps
body
The French word 'corps' is used in the same context as the English 'body'. It could be referred to a person's physical structure or a main section of a structure. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a collective group or a 'body' of individuals such as 'corps diplomatique' (diplomatic corps).
Example sentences with corps →côté
side
The French word 'côté' translates to 'side' in English. It's often used in the French language to refer to the left or right part of a thing or place. Just like in English, it can also refer to a perspective or aspect of a situation or thing. For instance, 'De l'autre côté de la rue' means 'On the other side of the street'.
Example sentences with côté →courir
to run
In French, 'courir' is the infinitive form of the verb 'to run'. It is used in contexts similar to the english usage such as to move swiftly by foot, to take part in a race, or escape from something. The specific form used can change depending on the tense and the subject of the sentence. Eg : 'Je cours' = 'I run'.
Example sentences with courir →cours
course
In French, the term 'cours' is used to represent the English word 'course'. It can refer to a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject, typically leading to a qualification. For instance, academic courses in a university. It can also be used to signify the direction in which something is moving. However, the specific usage will typically depend on the context in which it is applied.
Example sentences with cours →couvrir
cover
The French word 'couvrir' translates directly to 'cover' in English and is used in largely the same contexts. It can be used when talking about putting something over another thing in order to protect or conceal it, like covering a dish or covering a body with a blanket. It is also used metaphorically like in English, such as 'covering a topic' in an educational or journalistic setting.
Example sentences with couvrir →créer
create
The French word 'créer' is equivalent to the English verb 'create'. It is similarly used in many contexts like, 'to create art', 'to create a plan', or 'to create a meal'. Furthermore, 'créer' agrees with the subject of the sentence and may require various endings based on person, number, tense, mood, etc. For instance, 'Je crée' means 'I create'.
Example sentences with créer →croire
believe
In French, 'croire' which translates to 'believe' in English, is used similarly. It can mean to have confidence in the truth of something or accept something as true. It can be used in various contexts similar to English. For example, 'Je crois que tu as raison' means 'I believe you are right'.
Example sentences with croire →culture
culture
In French, the word 'culture' keeps the same spelling and similar pronunciation as in English. It also shares the same meanings, referring both to the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people and to the cultivation of crops or bacteria. It can be used in various contexts just like in English, such as discussing social behavior and norms (la culture française) or cultivation (la culture de tomates).
Example sentences with culture →date
date
In French, 'date' also means 'date'. However, the pronunciation is slightly different. This word is used in the same contexts as in English, to refer to a particular day in a month or year, or a social or romantic outing with another person. Its usage is common especially in scheduling and planning activities or events.
Example sentences with date →décider
decide
The French translation for 'decide' is 'décider'. This verb is commonly used in French to express making a conclusion after consideration. Like in English, it can be used with various prepositions such as 'de' or 'que'. For example in a sentence, 'Il a décidé de partir' which means 'He decided to leave'.
Example sentences with décider →décrire
describe
The French word 'décrire' directly translates to 'describe' in English. It is primarily used in the same context, to give a detailed account or representation in words, of something such as a structure, experience, or process. Like in English, it can be used in a variety of contexts, encompassing physical descriptions, recounts of events or processes, or outlining concepts or ideas.
Example sentences with décrire →défi
challenge
The French word 'défi' is the translation of the English term 'challenge'. It is widely used in a similar way as in English, either referring to a test of abilities or skills, or pertaining to an invitation to contest in any type of competition. It can be used in different contexts - sports, personal growth, professional development, video games etc.
Example sentences with défi →dépenser
spend
The word 'dépenser' is used in French to refer to the act of spending money, similar to how the word 'spend' is used in English. It can be used in a variety of contexts, for example: 'Je vais dépenser de l'argent' translates to 'I am going to spend money'.
Example sentences with dépenser →déplacer
move
The word 'déplacer' is used in French in a similar way as 'move' in English. It can refer to changing location or position, or causing something to change location or position. For example, 'Je vais déplacer la voiture' translates to 'I am going to move the car'. However, it's important to note that French, like English, has various words for different contexts of 'move', such as 'bouger' for less formal contexts.
Example sentences with déplacer →des choses
stuff
The French translation for 'stuff' is 'des choses'. However, as with any translation, context is incredibly important. 'Stuff' is a very general term in English and can be translated into different words in French depending on the specific usage. Generally, the term 'des choses' can be used to denote 'stuff' in most contexts, usually meaning various or unspecified things or matter. For example, 'I have a lot of stuff' translates to 'J'ai beaucoup de choses'.
Example sentences with des choses →dessiner
draw
The word 'dessiner' in French translates to 'draw' in English. In French, it is used in much the same contexts as in English. One can use it when talking about creating a picture using pencil, pen or other drawing materials. Like English, it can also be used metaphorically in various expressions.
Example sentences with dessiner →