French reference

The most common French verbs

The 300 verbs you will meet most often in French, ordered by frequency rather than by textbook chapter. Between them they account for 20.0% of everyday speech.

300verbs
20.0%of everyday speech
#1rank of the commonest
#WordEnglishSay itShare
1êtreto beehtr4.708%
2avoirto haveah-VWAHR3.527%
17faireto dofehr1.019%
19allerto goah-LAY1.001%
26pouvoirto be able topoo-VWAHR0.650%
27direto saydeer0.634%
30vouloirto wantvoo-LWAHR0.550%
32savoirto knowsah-VWAHR0.525%
47voirto seevwahr0.385%
48devoirto have toduh-VWAHR0.371%
60venirto comevuh-NEER0.243%
69penserto thinkpahN-SAY0.206%
71prendreto takeprahNdr0.192%
76parlerto speakpahr-LAY0.182%
84aimerto likeeh-MAY0.161%
85croireto believekrwahr0.153%
87trouverto findtroo-VAY0.150%
95falloirto be necessary (must)fah-LWAHR0.138%
99attendreto waitah-TAHNDR0.129%
109partirto leavepahr-TEER0.109%
112arriverto arriveah-ree-VAY0.105%
114regarderto watchruh-gahr-DAY0.103%
121sortirto go outsawr-TEER0.093%
122tuerto killtew-AY0.093%
124appelerto callah-PLAY0.092%
125mettreto putmehtr0.091%
128arrêterto stopah-reh-TAY0.089%
130essayerto tryay-seh-YAY0.086%
135connaîtreto know (a person/thing)kaw-NEHTR0.083%
163comprendreto understandkohN-PRAHNDR0.063%
164écouterto listenay-koo-TAY0.063%
165aiderto helpeh-DAY0.062%
169resterto stayrehs-TAY0.061%
176tenirto holdtuh-NEER0.057%
177passerto passpah-SAY0.057%
183laisserto letleh-SAY0.054%
187travaillerto worktrah-vah-YAY0.053%
191chercherto look forshehr-SHAY0.052%
194commencerto beginkaw-mahN-SAY0.051%
197plaireto pleaseplehr0.051%
199avertirto warnah-vehr-TEER0.050%
215donnerto givedaw-NAY0.044%
225devenirto becomeduhv-NEER0.042%
227revenirto come backruhv-NEER0.041%
240entendreto hearahN-TAHNDR0.040%
244mangerto eatmahN-ZHAY0.039%
247rentrerto go homerahN-TRAY0.038%
251mourirto diemoo-REER0.038%
252demanderto askduh-mahN-DAY0.037%
253rendreto give backrahNdr0.037%
258importerto matteraN-pawr-TAY0.036%
268espérerto hopeehs-pay-RAY0.034%
279vivreto liveveevr0.032%
280avalerto swallowah-vah-LAY0.032%
282jouerto playzhway0.032%
284revoirto see againruh-VWAHR0.031%
285apprendreto learnah-PRAHNDR0.031%
294entrerto enterahN-TRAY0.030%
299perdreto losepehrdr0.029%
300semblerto seemsahN-BLAY0.029%
312tomberto falltohN-BAY0.028%
319utiliserto useew-tee-lee-ZAY0.027%
327sentirto feelsahN-TEER0.026%
331sauverto savesoh-VAY0.026%
333inquiéterto worryaN-kyay-TAY0.026%
343augmenterto increaseohg-mahn-TAY0.025%
344occuperto occupyaw-kew-PAY0.025%
347retrouverto find againruh-troo-VAY0.025%
348peserto weighpuh-ZAY0.025%
353dormirto sleepdawr-MEER0.025%
355téléphonerto phonetay-lay-foh-NAY0.025%
361adorerto adoreah-doh-RAY0.024%
363acheterto buyah-SHTAY0.024%
371toucherto touchtoo-SHAY0.023%
377boireto drinkbwahr0.023%
378rappelerto call backrah-PLAY0.023%
387imaginerto imagineee-mah-zhee-NAY0.022%
388répondreto answerray-POHNDR0.022%
391prierto pray/begpree-AY0.021%
392servirto servesehr-VEER0.021%
399envoyerto sendahN-vwah-YAY0.021%
400changerto changeshahN-ZHAY0.021%
403recevoirto receiveruh-suh-VWAHR0.021%
404mentirto liemahN-TEER0.021%
408montrerto showmohN-TRAY0.021%
417garderto keepgahr-DAY0.021%
428agirto actah-ZHEER0.020%
429lireto readleer0.020%
432oserto dareoh-ZAY0.019%
433emmenerto take (someone)ahNm-NAY0.019%
442volerto flyvoh-LAY0.019%
451gagnerto wingah-NYAY0.018%
456quitterto leavekee-TAY0.018%
457continuerto continuekohN-tee-new-AY0.018%
465ressemblerto resembleruh-sahN-BLAY0.018%
471supposerto supposesew-poh-ZAY0.017%
477terminerto finishtehr-mee-NAY0.017%
479oublierto forgetoo-blee-AY0.017%
480vendreto sellvahNdr0.017%
481foutreto do (vulgar)footr0.017%
482suffireto be enoughsew-FEER0.017%
486valoirto be worthvah-LWAHR0.017%
498finirto finishfee-NEER0.016%
501vérifierto checkvay-ree-FYAY0.017%
502expliquerto explainehks-plee-KAY0.017%
503tirerto pulltee-RAY0.017%
504porterto wearpawr-TAY0.017%
507payerto paypeh-YAY0.017%
509battreto beatbahtr0.017%
515observerto observeob-sehr-VAY0.016%
516suivreto followsew-EEVR0.016%
519ouvreopensoovr0.016%
522marierto marrymah-RYAY0.016%
524raconterto tell (a story)rah-kohN-TAY0.016%
537préparerto preparepray-pah-RAY0.016%
538descendreto go downdeh-SAHNDR0.016%
549ignorerto ignoreee-nyoh-RAY0.016%
557accepterto acceptahk-sehp-TAY0.015%
558ramenerto bring backrahm-NAY0.015%
566protégerto protectproh-tay-ZHAY0.015%
567apporterto bringah-pawr-TAY0.015%
570prêterto lendpreh-TAY0.015%
582fournirto providefoor-NEER0.015%
583retournerto go backruh-toor-NAY0.015%
586planterto plantplahn-TAY0.015%
591dessinerto drawdeh-see-NAY0.014%
592rencontrerto meetrahN-kohN-TRAY0.014%
605guiderto guideghee-DAY0.014%
617informerto informan-for-MAY0.014%
618visiterto visit (a place)vee-zee-TAY0.013%
625jeterto throwzhuh-TAY0.013%
640marcherto walkmahr-SHAY0.013%
642détesterto hateday-tehs-TAY0.013%
643rireto laughreer0.013%
650traduireto translatetrah-DWEER0.013%
656poserto placepoh-ZAY0.013%
659préfèrepreferpray-FEHR0.012%
663réveillerto wake upray-veh-YAY0.012%
669écrireto writeay-KREER0.012%
671monterto go upmohN-TAY0.012%
674transporterto transporttrahns-por-TAY0.012%
676récupérerto get backray-kew-pay-RAY0.012%
694détruireto destroyday-trew-EER0.012%
697assurerto ensureah-sew-RAY0.012%
704pleurerto crypluh-RAY0.012%
708remercierto thankruh-mehr-SYAY0.012%
715collerto gluekaw-LAY0.014%
725découvrirto discoverday-koo-VREER0.011%
727obtenirto obtainawbt-NEER0.011%
728craindreto fearkraNdr0.011%
730sécherto drysay-SHAY0.011%
733signerto signsee-NYAY0.011%
734mouillerto wetmoo-YAY0.006%
739saluerto greetsah-lew-AY0.011%
742dérangerto botherday-rahN-ZHAY0.011%
744offrirto offeraw-FREER0.011%
750tremperto soaktrahN-PAY0.011%
752empêcherto preventahN-peh-SHAY0.011%
755amenerto bring (someone)ahm-NAY0.011%
756bougerto moveboo-ZHAY0.011%
758apprécierto appreciateah-pray-SYAY0.011%
765chanterto singshahN-TAY0.011%
767arrangerto arrangeah-rahN-ZHAY0.010%
769excuserto excuseehks-kew-ZAY0.010%
774frotterto rubfraw-TAY0.015%
775secouerto shakesuh-KWAY0.015%
778existerto existehg-zees-TAY0.010%
780découperto cut outday-koo-PAY0.010%
786jureswearzhewr0.010%
787remettreto put backruh-MEHTR0.010%
788conduireto drivekohN-dew-EER0.010%
790hacherto chopah-SHAY0.010%
794prévenirto warnprayv-NEER0.010%
795pelerto peelpuh-LAY0.010%
800salerto saltsah-LAY0.010%
805modifierto modifymoh-dee-FYAY0.010%
813promettreto promiseproh-MEHTR0.010%
814tournerto turntoor-NAY0.010%
815durerto lastdew-RAY0.010%
819rejoindreto joinruh-ZHWANDR0.010%
820mâcherto chewmah-SHAY0.010%
823imiterto imitateee-mee-TAY0.010%
827justifierto justifyzhoo-stee-FYAY0.010%
828ouvrirto openoo-VREER0.010%
831prouverto proveproo-VAY0.010%
834coucherto put to bedkoo-SHAY0.010%
836protesterto protestproh-teh-STAY0.010%
837signifierto meansee-nyee-fee-AY0.010%
840sifflerto whistlesee-FLAY0.011%
846permettreto allowpehr-MEHTR0.010%
849dégagerto clear offday-gah-ZHAY0.010%
850éviterto avoiday-vee-TAY0.010%
852paraîtreto appearpah-REHTR0.010%
854résisterto resistray-zee-STAY0.009%
855murmurerto murmurmewr-mew-RAY0.009%
859tirepullsteer0.009%
863virerto fire (someone)vee-RAY0.009%
865hurlerto yellewr-LAY0.009%
870ramperto crawlrahN-PAY0.009%
875tromperto deceivetrohN-PAY0.009%
883présenterto introducepray-zahN-TAY0.009%
888amuserto amuseah-mew-ZAY0.009%
896intéresserto interestaN-tay-reh-SAY0.009%
902maintenirto maintainman-tuh-NEER0.009%
904épouserto marryay-poo-ZAY0.009%
909reconnaîtreto recognizeruh-kaw-NEHTR0.009%
911cacherto hidekah-SHAY0.009%
915attraperto catchah-trah-PAY0.009%
916discuterto discussdees-kew-TAY0.009%
927soutenirto supportsoot-NEER0.009%
934menerto leadmuh-NAY0.009%
939reprendreto resumeruh-PRAHNDR0.009%
940refuserto refuseruh-few-ZAY0.009%
946fermerto closefehr-MAY0.009%
947traverserto crosstrah-vehr-SAY0.009%
952plaisanterto jokepleh-zahN-TAY0.008%
971enleverto removeahNl-VAY0.008%
972devinerto guessduh-vee-NAY0.008%
973déciderto decideday-see-DAY0.008%
975souffrirto suffersoo-FREER0.008%
988abandonnerto abandonah-bahN-daw-NAY0.008%
991ressentirto feelruh-sahN-TEER0.008%
1006remarquerto noticeruh-mahr-KAY0.008%
1016établirto establishay-tah-BLEER0.008%
1022respirerto breatherehs-pee-RAY0.008%
1044crierto shoutkree-AY0.008%
1049couperto cutkoo-PAY0.008%
1058répéterto repeatray-pay-TAY0.008%
1062convaincreto convincekohN-VANKR0.008%
1063publierto publishpoob-lee-AY0.008%
1067asseoirto sitah-SWAHR0.008%
1082punirto punishpoo-NEER0.008%
1083danserto dancedahN-SAY0.007%
1087courirto runkoo-REER0.007%
1089mériterto deservemay-ree-TAY0.007%
1090compterto countkohN-TAY0.007%
1093surveillerto watchsewr-veh-YAY0.007%
1100parierto betpah-ree-AY0.007%
1104attaquerto attackah-tah-KAY0.007%
1110exploserto explodeehks-ploh-ZAY0.007%
1112gérerto managezhay-RAY0.007%
1115choisirto chooseshwah-ZEER0.007%
1118retirerto withdrawruh-tee-RAY0.007%
1127survivreto survivesewr-VEEVR0.007%
1137construireto buildkohNs-trew-EER0.007%
1144réfléchirto thinkray-flay-SHEER0.007%
1145coûterto costkoo-TAY0.007%
1148fonctionnerto functionfohNk-syaw-NAY0.007%
1152échapperto escapeay-shah-PAY0.007%
1153créerto createkray-AY0.007%
1158supporterto supportsew-pawr-TAY0.007%
1164sauterto jumpsoh-TAY0.007%
1167dirigerto leaddee-ree-ZHAY0.007%
1169leverto liftluh-VAY0.007%
1181tenterto attempttahN-TAY0.007%
1203manquerto missmahN-KAY0.007%
1211recommencerto start againruh-kaw-mahN-SAY0.007%
1215grandirto grow upgrahN-DEER0.007%
1229regretterto regretruh-greh-TAY0.006%
1249inscrireto enrollan-SKREER0.006%
1254attirerto attractah-tee-RAY0.006%
1256nettoyerto cleanneh-twah-YAY0.006%
1261reculerto back offruh-kew-LAY0.006%
1262réglerto settlerayg-LAY0.006%
1277frapperto hitfrah-PAY0.006%
1287brûlerto burnbrew-LAY0.006%
1288avancerto advanceah-vahN-SAY0.006%
1293faillirto almost do (something)fah-YEER0.006%
1318introduireto introducean-troh-DWEER0.006%
1320chierto shit (vulgar)shyay0.006%
1333appartenirto belongah-pahr-tuh-NEER0.006%
1336interrompreto interruptan-teh-ROHNPR0.006%
1364dépendreto dependday-PAHNdr0.006%
1366enfuirto fleeahN-few-EER0.006%
1373fumerto smokefew-MAY0.006%
1375ralentirto slow downrah-lahN-TEER0.006%
1392accompagnerto accompanyah-kohN-pah-NYAY0.006%
1400profiterto take advantageproh-fee-TAY0.006%
1402réparerto fixray-pah-RAY0.006%
1404pardonnerto forgivepahr-daw-NAY0.006%
1409avouerto admitah-VWAY0.006%
1417agiterto stirah-zhee-TAY0.006%
1418empilerto stackahN-pee-LAY0.006%
1419envelopperto wrapahNv-law-PAY0.006%
1420décrocherto unhookday-kraw-SHAY0.006%
1424détacherto detachday-tah-SHAY0.008%
1426lâcherto let golah-SHAY0.006%
1429nouerto tienoo-AY0.006%
1430fendreto splitFAHN-druh0.006%
1434tordreto twistTAWR-druh0.006%
1435moudreto grindMOO-druh0.006%
1436respecterto respectrehs-pehk-TAY0.006%
1440couvrirto coverkoo-VREER0.006%
1445broyerto crushbrwah-YAY0.005%
1448partagerto sharepahr-tah-ZHAY0.005%
1450percerto piercepehr-SAY0.005%
1458approcherto approachah-proh-SHAY0.005%
1459saisirto seizeseh-ZEER0.005%
1461concernerto concernkohN-sehr-NAY0.005%
1465gronderto scoldgrohn-DAY0.005%

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