The French verb “guérir” means “to heal,” “to cure,” “to recover” or “to cure oneself.” It can be used in three different ways: transitively, intransitively and reflexively. Let’s see what that means below.

Transitive

Used transitively, “guérir” means “to cure” someone of something. Transitive means that the verb “guérir” will have a direct object, which is a noun or pronoun that the verb acts on, directly.

• Ce médicament guérira mon rhume (This medicine will cure my cold)

Intransitive

Used intransitively, “guérir” means “to heal,” but without an object.

• La blessure a guéri toute seule (The injury healed by itself)

Reflexive

Used reflexively, “guérir” means “to cure oneself” or “to be cured,” rather than to cure someone else, or for something to heal of its own accord.

• Je me suis guéri de ma grippe en restant au chaud (I recovered from my flu by staying warm)

Etymology

The French verb “guérir” traces its origins to the Latin word “curare,” meaning “to take care of” or “to cure.” Over time, “curare” transformed into Old French “guarir” and eventually became the modern French “guérir.”

Conjugation

Present tense

• Je guéris (I heal)
• Tu guéris (You heal)
• Il/elle/on guérit (He/she/one heals)
• Nous guérissons (We heal)
• Vous guérissez (You heal – formal/plural)
• Ils/elles guérissent (They heal)

Passé composé

• J’ai guéri (I have healed)
• Tu as guéri (You have healed)
• Il/elle/on a guéri (He/she/one has healed)
• Nous avons guéri (We have healed)
• Vous avez guéri (You have healed – formal/plural)
• Ils/elles ont guéri (They have healed)