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Flashcards: 700 common French verbs
acheter
to buy
advenir
to happen
aider
to help, assist
aimer
to like, to love
ajouter
to add
appeler
to call, name, appeal
apporter
to bring, bear
apprendre
to learn
arrêter
to stop, arrest
attendre
to wait, wait for, expect
connaître
to know, be acquainted
continuer
to continue
contrôler
to check, inspect, test, supervise, control
corriger
to correct
coucher
to put to bed, lay, flatten
couper
to cut, switch off
courir
to run, race
coûter
to cost
croire
to believe
cuire
to cook
décider
to decide
décrire
to describe
demander
to ask for
enlever
to carry away, take away, remove
enseigner
to teach
entendre
to hear, understand
envoyer
to send
espérer
to hope
essayer
to try
étudier
to study
inviter
to invite
jouer
to play, act (in a play), gamble
laver
to wash
lever
to lift, raise
lire
to read
manger
to eat
mettre
to put (set), put on, place*many different meanings, and very common with expressions
nager
to swim
pleurer
to cry, weep, mourn
pleuvoir
to rain
porter
to wear, to carry
préférer
to prefer
prendre
to take (as in grab, bring, take notes,etc).*many uses, very common in expressions
se promener
to take a walk
promettre
promise
proposer
to propose, suggest
provenir
to be from, be the result of, be due to
quitter
to leave, quit, split up
raconter
to tell, recount
recevoir
to receive, get
reconnaître
to recognize, acknowledge
savoir
to know (how)
sentir
to feel, smell, perceive
souhaiter
to wish
suivre
to follow
susciter
to arouse, give rise to
tenir
to hold, grasp
terminer
to terminate, finish, end
avoir besoin
to need
blesser
to hurt, injure, wound, offend
boire
to drink
brûler
to burn
cacher
to hide
changer
to change
choisir
to choose, select, pick
commencer
to begin, start, commence
compléter
to make up, complete, complement, add to
comprendre
to understandto include
dépêcher
to dispatch
détester
to detest, dislike, hate
dire
to say, tell
donner
to give
dormir
to sleep
douter
to doubt
écouter
to listen
écrire
to write
effacer
to erase, rub out, delete
élever
to raise, rear, bring up
fermer
to close
finir
to finish, end, terminate, complete
forcer
to force
fumer
to smoke, steam
gagner
to win, earn, gain
garder
to guard, keep, retain
goûter
to taste, have a snack, enjoy
haïr
to hate
inclure
to include, enclose
s'inquiéter
to worry, to be upset
neiger
to snow
nettoyer
to clean
noter
to write downto noticeto mark, grade, assess
obéir
to obey
obtenir
to obtain, to get
occuper
to occupy
offrir
to offer
oublier
to forget
ouvrir
to open
pardonner
to pardon, forgive
parler
to talk
payer
to pay
penser
to think
perdre
to lose (something, location, etc)
placer
to place, put
refaire
to redo
réfléchir
to think, meditate, reflect, ponder
refuser
to refuse, withhold
regarder
to look at, watch
regretter
to regret, miss
remercier
to thank
remplacer
to replace
remplir
to fill
répéter
to repeat. rehearse
répondre
to respond, reply, answer
réussir
to succeed, result
se réveiller
to wake up
révéler
to reveal, discover, bring to fame
aller
to go
arriver
to arriveto happen
entrer
to enter, come in, go in
monter
to go up, climb, take up, bring up, mount
naître
to be born
mourir
to die
sortir
to go out, leave
tomber
to fall
descendre
to descend go down, take down, bring down
devenir
to become
partir
to leave, go away
parvenir
to reach, send, achieve
passer
to go, take, pass, spend time*numerous uses, common in expressions
rentrer
to return (to a place)
rester
to remain, stay, be left (over)
retourner
to return
revenir
to come back
venir
to come
avoir
to have
être
to be
faire
to make, do
pouvoir
to be able, can
devoir
to have to, must, ought, owe, should
vouloir
to want
abaisser
to lower, reduce, humilitate, humble
abasourdir
to daze, deafen, stun, bewilder, stupefy
abattre
to knock, pull, cut, shoot, or bring down, slaughterto dishearten
abolir
to abolish, do away with
absoudre
to absolve
s'abstenir
to abstain
accepter
to accept
acclamer
to acclaim, cheer, applaud
accompagner
to accompany
accorder
to accord, grant, reconcile, admit
accourir
to run to, run up to
accrocher
to hang (up)
accueillir
to welcome
accuser
to accuse, acknowledge
achever
to achieve, complete, finish, end
acquérir
to acquire
adjoindre
to appoint (as on a team, position, etc.)
admettre
to admit, pass, suppose
admirer
to admire
adorer
to adore, worship
adresser
to address, send
affaiblir
to weaken
agacer
to annoy, irritate, pester, vex
agir
to act/behave, take effect
aménager
to fit out, lay out, develop, plan, adjust
amener
to bringto lead *amener is generally used with people, apporter with things.
amuser
to amuse, entertain
animer
to host, present, lead, bring to life, drive, sustain
annoncer
to announce
apercevoir
to perceive
apparaître
to appear
appartenir
to belong, pertain
mémoriser
to memorize
approcher
to approach, to come near, to bring near
approuver
to approve (of)
armer
to arm
arracher
to pull up/out, uproot
arraisonner
to board
arranger
to arrange
assaillir
to assail, attack, beset
s'asseoir
to sit down
assister
to attendto assist (at)to be present (at)
assurer
to assure, ensure, insure, guarantee
astreindre
to compel, oblige
attaquer
to attack, contest, tackle, launch, start work on
atteindre
to attain
attirer
to attract, allure
attraper
to catch
augmenter
to augment, increase
avancer
to advance, go forward
avoir raison
to be right
baisser
to lower, sink
balancer
to sway, balance, swingto weighto throw away
balayer
to sweep
bâtir
to build
battre
to beat
bavarder
to chat
bêler
to whine (like a sheep)
bénir
to bless
blaguer
to joke
blâmer
to blame
blanchir
to whiten, launder, exonerate
bouger
to budge, move
bouillir
to boil
briser
to break, ruin (career, life), put an end to
brosser
to brush
broyer
to grind
casser
to break, crack, quash
causer
to chat, cause
céder
to yield, cede, give up
ceindre
to put on
célébrer
to celebrate
cesser
to cease
chanter
to sing
charger
to burden, charge, load
chasser
to hunt, chase, drive out
cheminer
to walk along, follow its course
chercher
to look for
chérir
to cherish
chuchoter
to whisper
circoncire
to circumcise
circonscrire
to contain
circonvenir
to circumventto get around
clore
to close, end
coller
to stick, paste, put
combattre
to combat, fight
commander
to command, order
commettre
to commit
comparaître
to appear in court
comparer
to compare
élire
to elect, choose
s'éloigner
to move away, go away, withdraw, step back, keep back, keep away
embrasser
to kiss, embrace
emmener
to lead, lead away, take away (persons)
empêcher
to hinder, prevent
employer
to employ, use
emprunter
to borrow (from)
encourager
to encourage
endormir
to fall asleep
enfreindre
to infringe
s'enfuir
to run away, slip away, escape, flee, fly away
engager
to commit, bind
enjoindre
to enjoin, forbid, prohibit, command
ennuyer
to bore, annoy, wearys'ennuyer = to be bored
énoncer
to express, state
s'enquérir
to inquire
enregistrer
to record, register, enter, show
enterrer
to bury
entraîner
to train, bring about, lead
entreprendre
to undertake, engage upon
entretenir
to look after
entrouvrir
to half-open
s'envoler
to take flight, take off
épeler
to spell
épouser
to marry
éprouver
to try, test, put to the test, feel, experience
équivaloir
to be equivalent to
essuyer
to wipe, dust, wipe up
estimer
to estimate
établir
to establish, set up, draw up
éteindre
to extinguish, shut down (computer), turn off
étonner
to amaze, astonish, stun, surprise
étourdir
to stun, daze, make dizzy, deafen, bewilder
étreindre
to embrace, grip
évaluer
to evaluate, appraise, assess, estimate
éviter
to avoid
exagérer
to exaggerate
exclure
to expel, suspend, exclude, dismiss
excuser
to excuse
exiger
to demand, require
exister
to exist
expliquer
to explain
explorer
to explore
exprimer
to express
faiblir
to get weaker, fail, get fainter, die down, drop, diminish
faillir
to failto almost (do something)
falloir
to be necessary*MANY various uses, common with expressions
feindre
to feign, make believe, pretend, simulate
féliciter
to congratulate
fendre
to split, crack, cleave
feuilleter
to leaf through
fixer
to fix, set
fonder
to found, establish, lay the foundation,
fondre
to melt, dissolve, mix colors
fouiller
to dig deeply, excavate, search
fournir
to furnish, supply
frapper
to knock, hit, strike, rap
frémir
to shudder, quiver, tremble
frire
to deep-fry
gaspiller
to waste
gâter
to spoil, damage
geindre
to moan
geler
to freeze
gêner
to bother, hamper, constrict, embarass, hinder, impede, inconvenience
gérer
to manage
grandir
to grow (up, taller), increase
gratter
to grate, scrape, scratch
grêler
to hail (ice from the sky)
grimper
to climb
gronder
to chide, reprimand, scold
guérir
to cure, heal, remedy, recover
s'habiller
to get dressed, to dress (onself)
habiter
to live (in), dwell (in), inhabit
hésiter
to hesitate
hoqueter
to hiccup, gasp
ignorer
to be unaware of, to be unaware of, to ignore
imposer
to impose
indiquer
to incidate, point out, show
induire
to mislead
s'informer
to find out, inquire, inform oneself
compter
to count, intend, expect to
concevoir
to conceive
conclure
to conclude
concourir
to compete (concurrently)
conduire
to lead, drive, conduct, manage
conserver
to preserve, conserve
confondre
to confuse, confound
conjoindre
to conjoin, unite
conquérir
to conquer
conseiller
to advise, counsel, recommend
consentir
to consent, agree
considérer
to consider
consommer
to consume (drink, eat), consummate
construire
to construct, build
contenir
to containto fit
conter
to relate, narrate, recount
contraindre
to constrain, restrain, compel
contredire
to contradict
contrevenir
to contravene
convaincre
to convince
convenir
to suit, be appropriateto agree, acknowledge
correspondre
to correspond (as in write, and to fit, relate)
corrompre
to corrupt
coudre
to sew, stitch
couvrir
to cover
craindre
to fear
créer
to create
crier
to shout, cry out
cueillir
to gather, pick
culpabiliser
to make one feel guilty
danser
to dance
débattre
to debate, discuss
décevoir
to deceive, disappoint
déchirer
to rip
décorer
to decorate
découdre
to take the stitches out ofto take off/out, to come off
décourager
to discourage
découvrir
to discover, uncover
se dédire
to retract
déduire
to deduce, infer, deduct
défaillir
to faint, falter
défaire
to undo, untie
défendre
to defend, forbid, prohibit
défricher
to clear, open up, prepare the ground
dégager
to free, clear (out), removeto give off, emit
déjeuner
to have lunch or breakfast
déménager
to move (furniture, etc.)
demeurer
to reside, live, remain, stay
démolir
to demolish
dénoncer
to denounce, terminate
dépasser
to pass, go beyond, exceed
dépeindre
to depict, describe, portray
dépendre
to depend (on)to be dependent (on)to take down (something that is hanging)
dépenser
to spend (money)
déplaire
to displease
déranger
to disturb, derange
désirer
to desire
désobéir
to disobey
dessiner
to draw, sketch
déteindre
to take the color out of to fade, rub off
détenir
to hold, detainto be in power
détourner
to turn aside, turn away, divert
détruire
to destroy
développer
to develop, spread out
dévêtir
to undress
deviner
to guess
diminuer
to diminish, decrease, lesson
dîner
to dine (have dinner)
diriger
to run, manage, lead, conduct, steer, pilot, direct, supervice
discourir
to make a speech (discourse)
discuter
to discuss, argue
disparaître
to disappear
dissoudre
to dissolve, disband
divorcer
to get divorced
doubler
to double, repeat, dub
échapper
to escape, avoid
échouer
to fail, run aground
éclore
to open, hatch
éconduire
to dismiss, reject, turn away
écraser
to crush, squash, stub out, mash, grind, pound, flatten
effrayer
to frighten
égayer
to amuse, cheer up, enliven, entertain
retirer
to draw (out) again, pull again, take something out/off
inscrire
to note down, score
insister
to insist
instruire
to instruct
interdire
to forbid, prohibit
s'intéresser
to be interested in
interroger
to question, ask, interrogate
interrompre
to interrupt
intervenir
to intervene, play a part, give a talk
introduire
to introduce, show in
inventer
to invent, devise, make up
jaillir
to spurt out, gush out, flow, ring out, spring out, shoot out
jaser
to chatter
jaunir
to turn yellow
jeter
to throw, cast
joindre
to join, contact
jouir
to enjoy
juger
to judge, deem
jurer
to swear, vow
kidnapper
to kidnap
klaxonner
to honk
lâcher
to loosen, unleash, let go
laisser
to let, allow, leave (alone)
lancer
to hurl, launch, throw
loger
to live, lodge
louer
to praise, rent, rent out
luire
to shine, glisten, glimmer, twinkle
maigrir
to lose weight, grow thin
maintenir
to maintain, support
manquer
to miss, lack
marcher
to walk, march, run (machine), function
maudire
to curse
méconnaître
to misjudge, misunderstand, not to know, not to recognize
médire
to malign, slander
mélanger
to mix, blend, shuffle
menacer
to threaten
mener
to lead, control
mentir
to lie
mépriser
to despise, scorn
mériter
to deserve, to call for, merit
mesurer
to measure
modérer
to moderate, restrain, reduce
montrer
to show, display, exhibit, point out
moquer
to mock, make fun of
mordre
to bite
moudre
to mill, grind
mouiller
to get something wet, dampen, baste, drop anchor
naviguer
to navigate, sail, browse, surf (internet)
négliger
to neglect, be careless about, pay no attention to
négocier
to negotiate
neutraliser
to neutralize, overpower
nier
to deny
noircir
to blacken, dirty, darken
nommer
to name, appoint
nouer
to tie, knot
nourrir
to feed, nourish
se noyer
to drown
nuire
to harm, hinder
obliger
to oblige
omettre
to omit
oser
to dare
paraître
to appear, seem
parcourir
to cover, travel up and down, go all over
partager
to divide up, share
participer
to participate, take part in, be involved in
patiner
to skate
pécher
to sin
pêcher
to fish
se peigner
to comb one's hair
peindre
to paint, portray
peler
to peel
pendre
to hang, suspend
pénétrer
to enter, penetrate
percevoir
to perceive, detect, feel
périr
to perish, die
permettre
to permit, allow, let
persuader
to persuade, convince, induce
peser
to weigh
pianoter
to tap (like a piano), drum one's fingers
plaindre
to pity
plaire
to please
plaisanter
to joke (2)
planter
to plant, stick, dump
plier
to fold, bend
plonger
to dive, swoop, plummet
pondre
to lay (an egg)
poser
to lay, place, put, set, pose
posséder
to possess, own, master
poursuivre
to pursue, prosecute
pousser
to push, grow
prédire
to predict, foretell
préparer
to prepare
prescrire
to prescribe, recommend
présenter
to present, introduce
pressentir
to sense, have a premonition
presser
to press, squeeze
prétendre
to pretend, claim, maintain
prêter
to lend
se prévaloir
to pride onself on
prévenir
to warn, forestall, ward off, prevent
prévoir
to foresee
prier
to pray, supplicate, entreat beg, request
produire
to produce
projeter
to project, plan, throw up, cast
prononcer
to pronounce, declare
proscrire
to prohibit, ban, proscribe, banish
protéger
to protect
prouver
to prove
puer
to stink
punir
to punish
ralentir
to slow down
ranger
to set (put) in order, tidy up
rappeler
to recall, remind, call again, call back
rassurer
to reassure
rater
to fail, miss
ravir
to delight, rob (somebody of something)
reconduire
to escort, renew
reconstruire
to rebuild, reconstruct
recoudre
to sew back on, stitch up
recourir
to race again, resort to, to turn to
recouvrir
to cover, become covered
récrire
to rewrite, write again
recueillir
to collect, gather, harvest
rédiger
to write, compile, write up, draw up
redire
to repeat, say again
réduire
to reduce, decrease, diminish
réélire
to re-elect
rejeter
to reject, throw back, deny
rejoindre
to rejoin, to agree with
relire
to reread
remarquer
to remark, notice, observe, distinguish
remettre
to put (on) again, replace, put back, give back, postpone
rencontrer
to meet, encounter
rendre
to give back, return, render, vomit
renoncer
to renounce
renouveler
to renew, re-elect, repeat
renvoyer
to dismiss, expel, suspend, send away
répandre
to spread, scatter, spill
reparaître
to reappear
réparer
to repair
repasser
to iron, pass again
repeindre
to repaint
se repentir
to repent
repérer
to spot, locate
reprendre
to take back, recover, resume
réprimander
to reprimand
reproduire
to reproduce
résoudre
to resolve, solve
ressembler
to resemble
ressentir
to feel
restreindre
to restrict
retenir
to retain, keep, detain, hold back
revendiquer
to demand, claim responsibility for, claim
rêver
to dream (during sleep)
revêtir
to put on (uniform)to take on (appearance, character)
revoir
to see again
riposter
to retaliate, answer back, counter attack
rire
to laugh
rompre
to break, burst, shatter, break off
rougir
to redden, blush
rouler
to roll, drive (a car), ride along
rouvrir
to reopen
saisir
to seize, grasp, comprehend
salir
to soil, dirty
satisfaire
to satisfy
sauter
to jump, leap
sauver
to save, rescue
secouer
to shake, shake off
secourir
to help, relieve
séduire
to charm, appeal to
séjourner
to sojourn, live somewhere temporarily
sembler
to seem
séparer
to separate
serrer
to grasp, press, squeeze, shake (hands)
servir
to serve, be useful
siffler
to whistle, hiss, boo
signaler
to signal, point out
signer
to sign
signifier
to mean
skier
to ski
songer
to dream, think
sonner
to ring
souffler
to blow, pant
souffrir
to suffer, endure
souiller
to soil, dirty, muddy, sully (reputation)
soumettre
to submit
sourire
to smile
souscrire
to subscribe (book, new publication, fund)
soutenir
to support
se souvenir
to remember
subir
to suffer, undergo
subvenir
to provide for, support
sucer
to suck
succomber
to succumb, die
suffire
to suffice, be enough
suggérer
to suggest
supplier
to beg, implore, supplicate
supposer
to suppose
supporter
to support, endure, hold up, prop up, tolerate
surprendre
to surprise
survenir
to occur, arise, take place
survivre
to survive
survoler
to fly over
tapoter
to tap, pat
teindre
to dye
téléphoner
to call (on the telephone)
tendre
to strain, stretch, tighten, tend
tenter
to tempt, attempt, try
tirer
to draw out, shoot, pull
tondre
to shear, mow
tonner
to thunder, boom
tordre
to twist
toucher
to touch, affect
tourner
to turn
tousser
to cough
tracer
to draw (something out: water, card, etc.)to draw (plan, line, circle)
traduire
to translate
trahir
to betray
traiter
to treat (somebody a certain way), negotiate
transmettre
to transmit, transfer
transparaître
to show through
traverser
to traverse, cross
tressaillir
to quiver, shudder, wince
tricher
to trick, cheat
tuer
to kill
tutoyer
to use "tu" with somebody when speaking
unir
to unite, join
user
to wear out, wear down
vaincre
to vanquish, conquer
valoir
to be worth, be as good as, deserve, merit
vanter
to vaunt, praise
varier
to vary
veiller
to stay up (late), be watchful
venger
to avenge
verdir
to turn green
vérifier
to verify, check, audit
verser
to pour
vêtir
to clothe, dress
vieillir
to grow old, age
viser
to aim
vivre
to live (be alive)
voiler
to veil
voler
to fly, steal
voter
to vote
vouvoyer
to use "vous" when speaking with somebody
voyager
to travel
zébrer
to stripe
zézayer
to lisp
zoner
to zone
frissonner
to quake (fear), shudder (horror), shiver (from cold)
rêvasser
to dream (when awake)
accroître
to increase, make greater, to enlarge
s'en aller
to go away
s'amuser
to have a good timeto amuse oneselfto enjoy oneself
apprécier
to appreciate
s'arrêter
to stop oneself, to pause
assiéger
to besiegeto lay seige to
baver
to drool
brancher
to plug in, connect
croître
to grow, increase
se débrouiller
to manage, improvise, get by
décroître
to decrease, diminish
se dépêcher
to hurry, hasten
émouvoir
to move, touch, excite, arouse
enduire
to coat (cover a surface)
s'étendre
to stretch oneself, to stretch out, lie down
s'évanouir
to faint, lose consciousness, swoon, vanish
s'exclure mutuellement
to be mutually exclusive
s'excuser
to excuse oneself, apologize
se fâcher
to become angry
se fier
to depend on, rely on, trust in
fuir
to flee, fly off, shunto leak (gas, oil, etc.)
se laver
to wash oneself
se lever
to get up
se méfier
to beware, distrust, mistrust
se méprendre
to be mistaken, to mistake
se mettre
to begin, start, place oneself
mirer
to mirror
modeler
to model, shape
mouvoir
to move
s'occuper
to be busy, keep oneself busy
se plaindre
to complain, lament, moan
se presser
to be in a hurry, make haste, rush, crowd
programmer
to program, plan
se rappeler
to remember, recall, recollect
se reposer
to rest
se retirer
to retire, withdraw
se sauver
to run away, to rush off, to escape
sécher
to dry
se servir
to serve oneself, help oneself (to food and drink)
se taire
to be silent, quiet
traire
to milk
travailler
to work
se tromper
to be mistaken, to be wrong (about something)
tromper
to cheat, deceive
trouver
to find
se trouver
to be located, be situated
vendre
to sell
voir
to see
déverrouiller
to unlock, release, unboldt
détendre
to relax
coopérer
to cooperate
précéder
to precede
régner
to reign
rouspéter
to grumble, grouch
tolérer
to tolerate
ensorceler
to bewitch
aboyer
to bark
rayer
to cross out
revendre
to sell, sell off
grossir
to gain weight