201 Essential French Verbs

This page provides a list of 201 essential French verbs that will help you develop intermediate-level French vocabulary fast. These verbs are vital to communicate in French in a fluent way on a day to day basis. Memorize them to ensure you achieve a high level of French in no time!

Use the search bar to find verbs you are looking for. Search for French verbs or their English translation.

French verb	English translation
accepter	to accept
acclamer	to cheer, to acclaim
accompagner	to go with, to accompany
accorder	to admit
accourir	to hurry
accrocher	to hang (up)
accueillir	to welcome
acheter	to buy
acquérir	to acquire
adjoindre	to appoint
admirer	to admire
adorer	to adore, to love
agir	to act, to behave
aider	to help
aimer	to love, to like, to be fond of
ajouter	to add
aller	to go
allumer	turn on
amuser	to amuse, to entertain
annoncer	to announce
annuler	to cancel
appeler	to call, to ring
apporter	to bring, to supply
apprendre	to learn, to hear (about)
apprendre par coeur	to memorize
approcher	to approach
arracher	to pull up/out
arranger	to arrange, to organize
arrêter	to stop
arriver	to arrive
asseoir	to sit down, to sit up
attendre	to wait for, to expect
augmenter	to increase
avoir	to have
avoir besoin	to have
avoir raison	to be right
blaguer	to joke
boire	to drink (consume alcohol), to soak up
bouger	to move
causer	to chat, to cause
changer	to change, exchange
chanter	to sing
cheminer	to walk on
chercher	to look for, to seek
choisir	to choose
commencer	to start, begin
comprendre	to understand
compter	to count
conduire	to drive, lead
confondre	to confuse
connaître	to know, experience
conseiller	to recommend
continuer	to continue, to go on
coucher	to put to bed, to lay down
coûter	to cost
craindre	to fear, to be afraid of
crier	to shout
croire	to believe, to think
cuire	to cook
danser	to dance
décider	to decide
décrire	to describe
demander	to ask, to ask for, to seek
dépenser	to spend
détester	to hate, to detest
devenir	to become
devoir	to have to, to must
dire	to say, tell
donner	to give, give away
dormir	to sleep
écrire	to write
effacer	to erase
embrasser	to kiss, to embrace
emmener	to take (somebody), take along
emprunter	to borrow
endormir	to fall asleep
enregistrer	to record
enseigner	to teach
entendre	to hear, to listen, to understand
entrer	to go in, to enter
envoyer	to send, to throw, to dispatch, to refer
épeler	to spell
épouser	to marry, to espouse
essayer	to try, try out, test
éteindre	to turn off
être	to be, to being
éviter	to avoid
excuser	to forgive, to pardon, to excuse
expliquer	to explain, to account for
faire	to do, to make
faire du mal	to hurt
falloir	to need
féliciter	to congratulate
fermer	to close, to shut
finir	to finish, to end
frapper	to knock
gagner	to win, earn
garder	to keep, to look after, to guard
geindre	to groan
gérer	to manage
goûter	to taste
haïr	to hate
informer	to inform
intéresser	to interest
inviter	to invite
jouer	to play
jurer	to swear, vow
laisser	to leave
laver	to clean
lire	to read
louer	to rent
maintenir	to keep, to maintain
manger	to eat
marcher	to walk, to march, to go
mélanger	to mix
méprendre	to mistake
mettre	to put, put on, wear
monter	to go up, to rise, to come up
montrer	to show, to point out
nettoyer	to clean
nommer	to name
noter	to write down
occuper	to occupy, to live in, to take up
offrir	to offer, to give
oser	to dare
oublier	to forget
ouvrir	to open
pardonner	to forgive, to pardon, to excuse
parler	to speak, talk
partir	to go, to leave, to go away
passer	to pass, go by, cross
payer	to pay
pêcher	to fish
penser	to think
perdre	to lose, to miss
permettre	to allow
pleurer	to cry
porter	to carry, to wear
pouvoir	to can, to be able to
préférer	to prefer
prendre	to take, to get
préparer	to prepare, to get ready
présenter	to introduce, present
presser	to squeeze
prier	to pray
quitter	to leave, to depart
raconter	to tell
rappeler	to remind, to remember
recevoir	to receive, to get
reconduire	to renew
reconnaître	to recognize
refléter	to reflect
refuser	to refuse, to turn down
regarder	to look at, to watch
rejeter	to reject
remercier	to thank
remettre	to put back
remplacer	to replace
rencontrer	to meet, to encounter
rendre	to return, to give back
rentrer	to bring in, to come home
répandre	to spread
répéter	to repeat
répondre	to answer, to reply
ressentir	to feel
rester	to stay, to remain
retrouver	to find, to meet
revenir	to come back
revêtir	to put on
Rire	to laugh
rougir	to redden
sauver	to save
savoir	to know
s’en aller	to leave
se débrouiller	to cope
se plaindre	to complain
se réveiller	to wake up
secouer	to shake
sentir	to smell, to feel
servir	to serve
signer	to sign
sortir	to go out, to take out
souhaiter	to wish
soutenir	to support
suivre	to follow
supposer	to suppose, to assume
tenir	to hold, to run, to keep
terminer	to end, to finish
tirer	to pull, to draw
tomber	to fall
toucher	to touch
tousser	to cough
traduire	to translate
travailler	to work, to practice
trouver	to find
utiliser	to use
valoir	to hold, to be worth
vendre	to sell
venir	to come, to occur
visiter	to visit
vivre	to live
voir	to see
vomir	to vomit
vouloir	to want

Know all verbs by heart? Use the French conjugation chart to learn how to conjugate them. It’s a blueprint that will simply teach you the endings to all important French tenses.

Learning and understanding verbs is the backbone to developing a strong intermediate-level french vocabulary.

The verbs in this list are essential for communicating in french and should be memorized before you move on to the more advanced level.