20 French Verbs to Supercharge Your Daily Conversations

Updated on 2024-08-18

Mastering key French verbs is crucial for expressing yourself in everyday situations. These 20 versatile verbs will help you describe common actions and participate in daily conversations with confidence.

Essential Verbs for Daily Life

1. Faire (to do/make)

Je fais mes devoirs. (I'm doing my homework.)
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce week-end? (What are you doing this weekend?)

2. Aller (to go)

Je vais au cinéma. (I'm going to the cinema.)
Où allez-vous? (Where are you going?)

3. Avoir (to have)

J'ai faim. (I'm hungry.)
Avez-vous des questions? (Do you have any questions?)

4. Être (to be)

Je suis heureux. (I am happy.)
Elles sont à la maison. (They are at home.)

Action Verbs for Everyday Tasks

5. Manger (to eat)

Je mange une pomme. (I'm eating an apple.)

6. Boire (to drink)

Nous buvons du café. (We're drinking coffee.)

7. Dormir (to sleep)

Je dors huit heures par nuit. (I sleep eight hours a night.)

8. Travailler (to work)

Il travaille à la banque. (He works at the bank.)

Communication Verbs

9. Parler (to speak)

Je parle français. (I speak French.)

10. Écouter (to listen)

Écoutez attentivement. (Listen carefully.)

11. Lire (to read)

Elle lit un roman. (She's reading a novel.)

12. Écrire (to write)

J'écris un e-mail. (I'm writing an email.)

Movement and Travel Verbs

13. Marcher (to walk)

Nous marchons dans le parc. (We're walking in the park.)

14. Voyager (to travel)

Ils voyagent en Europe. (They're traveling in Europe.)

15. Prendre (to take)

Je prends le train. (I'm taking the train.)

Emotion and Thought Verbs

16. Penser (to think)

Que pensez-vous de cette idée? (What do you think of this idea?)

17. Aimer (to like/love)

J'aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate.)

18. Vouloir (to want)

Que voulez-vous manger? (What do you want to eat?)

Helpful Auxiliary Verbs

19. Pouvoir (can/to be able to)

Je peux vous aider? (Can I help you?)

20. Devoir (must/to have to)

Je dois partir maintenant. (I have to leave now.)

Practice these verbs regularly in various contexts to enhance your French speaking skills. Remember, many of these verbs are irregular, so pay attention to their conjugations in different tenses.