The French verb "défendre" means "to defend" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "défendre" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
Jump to a tense
How to Conjugate "défendre" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | défends |
| tu | you (informal) | défends |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | défend |
| nous | we | défendons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | défendez |
| ils/elles | they | défendent |
Il défend sa position courageusement.
He defends his position courageously.
How to Conjugate "défendre" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai défendu |
| tu | you (informal) | as défendu |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a défendu |
| nous | we | avons défendu |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez défendu |
| ils/elles | they | ont défendu |
Il a défendu la vérité.
He defended the truth.
Want to actually remember these?
VerbPal drills "défendre" in real French sentences using spaced repetition.
Try VerbPal FreeHow to Conjugate "défendre" in the Past (ongoing) Tense
Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | défendais |
| tu | you (informal) | défendais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | défendait |
| nous | we | défendions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | défendiez |
| ils/elles | they | défendaient |
Il défendait son titre de champion.
He was defending his champion title.
How to Conjugate "défendre" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | défendrai |
| tu | you (informal) | défendras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | défendra |
| nous | we | défendrons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | défendrez |
| ils/elles | they | défendront |
Il défendra la vérité ici.
He will defend the truth here.
How to Conjugate "défendre" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | défendrais |
| tu | you (informal) | défendrais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | défendrait |
| nous | we | défendrions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | défendriez |
| ils/elles | they | défendraient |
Il défendrait sa famille.
He would defend his family.
Frequently Asked Questions About "défendre"
Is "défendre" regular or irregular in French?
"Défendre" is a regular French verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "défendre" mean in English?
The French verb "défendre" means "to defend" in English.
How do you conjugate "défendre" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → défends, tu → défends, il/elle/on → défend, nous → défendons, vous → défendez, ils/elles → défendent.
How many tenses does "défendre" have in French?
"Défendre" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
Master French verbs for real
Stop memorizing tables. Start speaking with confidence.
Try VerbPal Free3-day free trial. Cancel anytime.