avoir

The second most frequently used verb in French is “avoir,” which means “to have.” It can also be used to talk about how old someone is. “Avoir” is an essential verb to know.

  1. Je (I) – ai Ex: J’ai un chat. (I have a cat.)
  2. Tu (You, singular informal) – as Ex: Tu as une voiture. (You have a car.)
  3. Il/Elle/On (He/She/One) – a Ex: Il a un livre. (He has a book.)
  4. Nous (We) – avons Ex: Nous avons une maison. (We have a house.)
  5. Vous (You, plural or formal) – avez Ex: Vous avez un chien. (You have a dog.)
  6. Ils/Elles (They) – ont Ex: Ils ont un vélo. (They have a bike.)

“Avoir” is also used to express age. For instance:

  • J’ai vingt ans. (I am twenty years old.)
  • Tu as trente ans. (You are thirty years old.)
  • Il a quarante ans. (He is forty years old.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • faire long feu

    The French idiom “faire long feu” literally translates as “to make long fire.” What it really means is “to drag on,” “to not have the desired effect,” “to last longer than expected” or “to miss your goal.” It comes from the era of of muzzle-loading rifles, before the invention of waterproof cartridges that enclosed the…

  • tirer

    The French verb “tirer” means “to draw” or “to pull,” but it has many additional meanings. It is a widely used verb, as well as being the basis of other related verbs such as attirer, étirer, retirer and soutirer. Multiple Meanings of “Tirer”: Etymology The verb “tirer” comes from the Latin verb “tirare,” which means…

  • se taper la cloche

    The word “cloche” means “bell,” but in French slang, it means “head” or sometimes “idiot.” In the middle of the 19th century, this saying meant to get drunk. But by 1900, it had changed to its present meaning, which is to have a good meal, to banquet, to gorge oneself, to thoroughly enjoy (food &…

  • apprendre

    The French Verb “Apprendre” The verb apprendre means “to learn” or “to teach” in French. It is an irregular verb derived from prendre (“to take”), which influences its conjugation pattern. Meanings of Apprendre Conjugation of Apprendre Present Tense Person Conjugation Je apprends Tu apprends Il/Elle/On apprend Nous apprenons Vous apprenez Ils/Elles apprennent Passé Composé Apprendre…