douter

ByFast French

The verb “douter” means “to doubt” while its reflexive form “se douter” means “to suspect” or “to have an inkling.” These two forms have distinctly different meanings despite their shared root.

Regular form: douter

When using “douter,” you express uncertainty or skepticism about something. It is typically followed by “de” when used with a noun or infinitive.

Examples:

  • Je doute de sa sincérité (I doubt his sincerity)
  • Il doute de pouvoir finir à temps (He doubts he can finish on time)

Reflexive form: se douter

“Se douter” expresses a suspicion or intuition about something. It is typically followed by “que” and a clause, or by “de” with a noun.

Examples:

  • Je me doute que tu es fatigué (I suspect you’re tired)
  • Elle se doutait de quelque chose (She suspected something)

Present tense conjugation

Douter:

  • je doute
  • tu doutes
  • il/elle/on doute
  • nous doutons
  • vous doutez
  • ils/elles doutent

Se douter:

  • je me doute
  • tu te doutes
  • il/elle/on se doute
  • nous nous doutons
  • vous vous doutez
  • ils/elles se doutent

Passé composé conjugation

Douter:

  • j’ai douté
  • tu as douté
  • il/elle/on a douté
  • nous avons douté
  • vous avez douté
  • ils/elles ont douté

Se douter:

  • je me suis douté(e)
  • tu t’es douté(e)
  • il/elle/on s’est douté(e)
  • nous nous sommes douté(e)s
  • vous vous êtes douté(e)(s)
  • ils/elles se sont douté(e)s

Etymology

The verb “douter” comes from the latin word “dubitare,” which means “to doubt” or “to hesitate.” This same latin root gave english the word “doubt” and spanish “dudar.”

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