Être & Avoir
The two most important verbs in French: you cannot avoid them. Here is everything you need to know.
Être — to be
| Pronoun | French | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | je suis | I am | |
| tu | tu es | you are (informal) | |
| il/elle/on | il est | he/she/one is | |
| nous | nous sommes | we are | |
| vous | vous êtes | you are (formal/plural) | |
| ils/elles | ils sont | they are |
Je suis étudiant(e).
I am a student.
Tu es fatigué?
Are you tired?
Elle est canadienne.
She is Canadian.
Nous sommes à l'école.
We are at school.
Avoir — to have
| Pronoun | French | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | j'ai | I have | |
| tu | tu as | you have | |
| il/elle/on | il a | he/she/one has | |
| nous | nous avons | we have | |
| vous | vous avez | you have | |
| ils/elles | ils ont | they have |
J'ai un chien.
I have a dog.
Il a vingt ans.
He is twenty (years old).
Vous avez le temps?
Do you have the time?
Elles ont faim.
They are hungry.
Common avoir expressions
avoir faim
to be hungry (lit: to have hunger)
avoir soif
to be thirsty
avoir chaud
to be hot
avoir froid
to be cold
avoir peur
to be afraid
avoir raison
to be right
avoir tort
to be wrong
avoir besoin de
to need
avoir envie de
to want / feel like
avoir l'air
to seem / look like
Être ou avoir?
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Hint: je form of être
I am a student.
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