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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to try" in French?
essayer
In French, "to try" is essayer.
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Pronunciation
eh-say-YAY. Three syllables with stress on the final syllable.
Grammar notes
A regular ER verb. Conjugates: j'essaie, tu essaies, il/elle essaie, nous essayons, vous essayez, ils/elles essaient. The 'y' changes to 'i' in some forms.
Example sentence
Vous essayez la robe.
You try on the dress.
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How to remember essayer
Essayer is from 'essai' (an attempt or essay). Each essay or attempt at writing is a trial.
Related words
- answer répondre
- clear up nettoyer
- go aller
- meet se rencontrer
- say dire
- sit s'asseoir
- take off enlever
- turn tourner
- work travailler
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about essayer
How do you say "to try" in French?
In French, "to try" is essayer. It is a noun.
How is essayer written in French?
essayer is written using the standard French script.
How is essayer used in a sentence?
Use essayer as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Vous essayez la robe. (You try on the dress.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"To try" in other languages
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