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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to be" in French?
être
In French, "to be" is être.
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Pronunciation
Pronounced eh-tr, with the final 'e' mostly silent.
Grammar notes
Etre is highly irregular. Conjugation: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous etes, ils sont.
Example sentence
Je suis heureux.
I am happy.
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How to remember être
Etre is the most important verb. Its forms change dramatically.
Related words
- blossom s'épanouir
- enter entrer
- leave partir
- pull tirer
- say dire
- shoot tirer
- shower prendre une douche
- wait attendre
- work travailler
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about être
How do you say "to be" in French?
In French, "to be" is être. It is a noun.
How is être written in French?
être is written using the standard French script.
How is être used in a sentence?
Use être as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Je suis heureux. (I am happy.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"To be" in other languages
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