100 Essential French Verbs to Boost Your Fluency 

If you're learning French, mastering the most commonly used verbs is a crucial step to building your conversational skills. Verbs are the backbone of any language, allowing you to express actions, describe experiences, and share your thoughts. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the 100 most essential French verbs to help you on your language-learning journey.

Why Learn Common French Verbs?

Learning frequently used verbs helps you:

• Understand everyday conversations.
• Express yourself effectively in various situations.
• Build confidence as you form sentences more naturally.

The Ultimate List of 100 French Verbs

High-Frequency Verbs

These are the verbs you’ll hear and use daily:

1. être (to be)
2. avoir (to have)
3. faire (to do/make)
4. dire (to say)
5. pouvoir (to be able to/can)
6. aller (to go)
7. voir (to see)
8. savoir (to know)
9. vouloir (to want)
10. venir (to come)

Verbs for Everyday Actions

These verbs help describe common activities:
11. prendre (to take)
12. trouver (to find)
13. donner (to give)
14. parler (to speak)
15. aimer (to love/like)
16. passer (to spend/pass)
17. mettre (to put)
18. croire (to believe)
19. demander (to ask)
20. comprendre (to understand)

Movement and Travel Verbs

Want to talk about going places? These verbs are a must:
21. rester (to stay)
22. tenir (to hold)
23. suivre (to follow)
24. partir (to leave)
25. arriver (to arrive)
26. entrer (to enter)
27. sortir (to go out)
28. marcher (to walk)
29. courir (to run)
30. voyager (to travel)

Communication and Expression Verbs

Express your thoughts and emotions with these verbs:
31. écouter (to listen)
32. regarder (to watch)
33. répondre (to answer)
34. écrire (to write)
35. lire (to read)
36. chanter (to sing)
37. rire (to laugh)
38. pleurer (to cry)
39. expliquer (to explain)
40. partager (to share)

Everyday Routine Verbs

These verbs will help you talk about daily life:
41. manger (to eat)
42. boire (to drink)
43. acheter (to buy)
44. travailler (to work)
45. dormir (to sleep)
46. nettoyer (to clean)
47. laver (to wash)
48. cuisiner (to cook)
49. habiter (to live in)
50. finir (to finish)

Emotional and Abstract Verbs

Dive deeper into feelings and abstract concepts with these:
51. espérer (to hope)
52. craindre (to fear)
53. souffrir (to suffer)
54. aider (to help)
55. oublier (to forget)
56. se souvenir (to remember)
57. décider (to decide)
58. aimer mieux (to prefer)
59. croire (to believe)
60. promettre (to promise)

Action-Oriented Verbs

For talking about achievements and failures:
61. gagner (to win)
62. perdre (to lose)
63. apprendre (to learn)
64. essayer (to try)
65. réussir (to succeed)
66. montrer (to show)
67. utiliser (to use)
68. construire (to build)
69. couper (to cut)
70. ouvrir (to open)

Leisure and Creativity Verbs

Share your hobbies and creative endeavors:
71. danser (to dance)
72. jouer (to play)
73. dessiner (to draw)
74. peindre (to paint)
75. coudre (to sew)
76. photographier (to photograph)
77. pêcher (to fish)
78. jardiner (to garden)
79. faire du vélo (to bike)
80. faire du sport (to play sports)

Miscellaneous Useful Verbs

Round out your vocabulary with these versatile verbs:
81. porter (to carry)
82. envoyer (to send)
83. inviter (to invite)
84. monter (to climb)
85. descendre (to go down)
86. traduire (to translate)
87. décrire (to describe)
88. soumettre (to submit)
89. attendre (to wait)
90. fêter (to celebrate)

Final Thoughts

With these 100 verbs, you’ll have a solid foundation for improving your French fluency. Start by learning their conjugations in the present tense, then explore past and future forms. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become in forming sentences and expressing yourself in French.

Happy learning!