Common French Verbs Every Beginner Should Master: Verb Vocabulary In The Present Tense

Bonjour, future French speakers! If you're wondering which French verbs to tackle first, you've come to the right place. Learning common French verbs is like collecting the keys to the French language—each one unlocks countless conversations and expressions.

Today, we're diving into the most essential French verbs that every beginner should master. These aren't just random verbs we pulled from a dictionary; they're the workhorses of everyday French conversation. Master these, and you'll be amazed at how much you can already express!

Why Focus on Common French Verbs First?

Think of common French verbs as your linguistic Swiss Army knife. Just like you'd want the most versatile tools in your toolkit, these high-frequency verbs appear in virtually every French conversation. Studies show that the top 100 most common verbs make up about 50% of all verb usage in French!

By focusing on these essential verbs first, you'll:

• Build confidence faster

• Understand more conversations sooner

• Create a solid foundation for advanced grammar

• Actually use what you learn in real situations

The Top 25 Common French Verbs (With Present Tense Conjugation)

Let's jump right into the verbs you'll use every single day. For each verb, I'll show you the present tense conjugation - if you need a refresher on French present tense conjugation patterns, we have a comprehensive guide to help you master the fundamentals.

The "Big Three" - Your French Survival Kit

1. ÊTRE (to be)

• Je suis (I am)

• Tu es (You are)

• Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)

• Nous sommes (We are)

• Vous êtes (You are - plural/formal)

• Ils/Elles sont (They are)

Example: Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)

2. AVOIR (to have)

• J'ai (I have)

• Tu as (You have)

• Il/Elle/On a (He/She/One has)

• Nous avons (We have)

• Vous avez (You have - plural/formal)

• Ils/Elles ont (They have)

Example: J'ai vingt ans. (I am twenty years old.)

3. FAIRE (to do/make)

• Je fais (I do/make)

• Tu fais (You do/make)

• Il/Elle/On fait (He/She/One does/makes)

• Nous faisons (We do/make)

• Vous faites (You do/make - plural/formal)

• Ils/Elles font (They do/make)

Example: Nous faisons nos devoirs. (We do our homework.)

Movement and Action Verbs

4. ALLER (to go)

• Je vais, tu vas, il/elle/on va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont Example: Je vais au cinéma. (I'm going to the movies.)

5. VENIR (to come)

• Je viens, tu viens, il/elle/on vient, nous venons, vous venez, ils/elles viennent Example: Tu viens avec moi? (Are you coming with me?)

6. PARTIR (to leave)

• Je pars, tu pars, il/elle/on part, nous partons, vous partez, ils/elles partent Example: Nous partons demain. (We're leaving tomorrow.)

7. ARRIVER (to arrive)

• J'arrive, tu arrives, il/elle/on arrive, nous arrivons, vous arrivez, ils/elles arrivent Example: Le train arrive à huit heures. (The train arrives at eight o'clock.)

Communication Verbs

8. PARLER (to speak)

• Je parle, tu parles, il/elle/on parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils/elles parlent Example: Je parle français. (I speak French.)

9. DIRE (to say/tell)

• Je dis, tu dis, il/elle/on dit, nous disons, vous dites, ils/elles disent Example: Que dis-tu? (What are you saying?)

10. ÉCOUTER (to listen)

• J'écoute, tu écoutes, il/elle/on écoute, nous écoutons, vous écoutez, ils/elles écoutent Example: J'écoute de la musique. (I'm listening to music.)

Mental and Emotional Verbs

11. SAVOIR (to know - facts)

• Je sais, tu sais, il/elle/on sait, nous savons, vous savez, ils/elles savent Example: Je sais parler anglais. (I know how to speak English.)

12. CONNAÎTRE (to know - people/places)

• Je connais, tu connais, il/elle/on connaît, nous connaissons, vous connaissez, ils/elles connaissent Example: Je connais Paris. (I know Paris.)

13. PENSER (to think)

• Je pense, tu penses, il/elle/on pense, nous pensons, vous pensez, ils/elles pensent Example: Je pense que tu as raison. (I think you're right.)

14. AIMER (to like/love)

• J'aime, tu aimes, il/elle/on aime, nous aimons, vous aimez, ils/elles aiment Example: J'aime le chocolat. (I like chocolate.)

Essential Action Verbs

15. MANGER (to eat)

• Je mange, tu manges, il/elle/on mange, nous mangeons, vous mangez, ils/elles mangent Example: Nous mangeons ensemble. (We eat together.)

16. BOIRE (to drink)

• Je bois, tu bois, il/elle/on boit, nous buvons, vous buvez, ils/elles boivent Example: Je bois du café. (I drink coffee.)

17. DORMIR (to sleep)

• Je dors, tu dors, il/elle/on dort, nous dormons, vous dormez, ils/elles dorment Example: Les enfants dorment. (The children are sleeping.)

18. TRAVAILLER (to work)

• Je travaille, tu travailles, il/elle/on travaille, nous travaillons, vous travaillez, ils/elles travaillent Example: Je travaille dans un bureau. (I work in an office.)

Modal and Auxiliary Verbs

19. POUVOIR (to be able to/can)

• Je peux, tu peux, il/elle/on peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils/elles peuvent Example: Je peux vous aider. (I can help you.)

20. VOULOIR (to want)

• Je veux, tu veux, il/elle/on veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils/elles veulent Example: Tu veux du thé? (Do you want some tea?)

21. DEVOIR (to have to/must)

• Je dois, tu dois, il/elle/on doit, nous devons, vous devez, ils/elles doivent Example: Je dois partir maintenant. (I have to leave now.)

Perception and Understanding

22. VOIR (to see)

• Je vois, tu vois, il/elle/on voit, nous voyons, vous voyez, ils/elles voient Example: Je vois la tour Eiffel! (I see the Eiffel Tower!)

23. REGARDER (to watch/look at)

• Je regarde, tu regardes, il/elle/on regarde, nous regardons, vous regardez, ils/elles regardent Example: Nous regardons un film. (We're watching a movie.)

24. COMPRENDRE (to understand)

• Je comprends, tu comprends, il/elle/on comprend, nous comprenons, vous comprenez, ils/elles comprennent Example: Je comprends le français. (I understand French.)

Getting Things Done

25. RÉUSSIR (to succeed)

• Je réussis, tu réussis, il/elle/on réussit, nous réussissons, vous réussissez, ils/elles réussissent Example: Tu réussis tes examens! (You're succeeding at your exams!)

Memory Tricks for Common French Verbs

Learning these verbs doesn't have to be a chore! Here are some fun memory techniques:

Group by Patterns

Notice that many -ER verbs (parler, manger, travailler, regarder) follow the same conjugation pattern. Learn one well, and you've learned them all!

Use Cognates

Many French verbs look similar to English words:

• Arriver = arrive

• Comprendre = comprehend

• Partir = part (as in "depart")

Create Verb Families

Group verbs by theme:

• Communication: parler, dire, écouter

• Movement: aller, venir, partir, arriver

• Senses: voir, regarder, écouter

The "Frequency Rule"

The more you encounter a verb, the faster you'll memorize it. That's why focusing on these common verbs is so smart—you'll see them everywhere!

French Language Practice: Putting Verbs to Work

Now comes the fun part—using these verbs! Here are some practical ways to incorporate them into your French language practice:

Daily Routine Descriptions

Try describing your day using these verbs: "Je me réveille, je mange le petit-déjeuner, je vais au travail, je parle avec mes collègues..."

Simple Conversations

Practice basic dialogues:

• "Tu veux venir avec moi?" (Do you want to come with me?)

• "Je ne peux pas, je dois travailler." (I can't, I have to work.)

Question and Answer Practice

Use these verbs to ask and answer questions:

• "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" (What are you doing?)

• "Je regarde la télé." (I'm watching TV.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with these essential verbs, beginners often stumble. Here are the most common pitfalls:

Mixing Up SAVOIR and CONNAÎTRE

• Use savoir for facts, skills, and information

• Use connaître for people, places, and things you're familiar with

Forgetting Être vs. Avoir for Age

French uses "avoir" for age: J'ai 25 ans (I am 25 years old), literally "I have 25 years."

Irregular Conjugations

Don't assume all verbs follow regular patterns. Verbs like être, avoir, aller, and faire have their own unique conjugations that must be memorized.

Your Next Steps: From Verbs to Fluency

Congratulations! You now have the 25 most common French verbs in your vocabulary arsenal. These verbs form the backbone of French communication, appearing in countless everyday situations.

Remember, language learning is like building a house—you need a strong foundation before adding the decorative elements. These common verbs are your foundation stones.

Ready to take your French to the next level? The best way to solidify your verb knowledge is through regular exposure to authentic French content. Our bi-weekly newsletter delivers short, engaging French stories designed specifically for learners like you. Each story uses these essential verbs in context, helping you see how they work naturally in French conversation.

Bonne chance with your French journey!