The French verb "devoir" means "to have to/must" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "devoir" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "devoir" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | dois |
| tu | you (informal) | dois |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | doit |
| nous | we | devons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | devez |
| ils/elles | they | doivent |
Il doit partir maintenant.
He must leave now.
How to Conjugate "devoir" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai dû |
| tu | you (informal) | as dû |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a dû |
| nous | we | avons dû |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez dû |
| ils/elles | they | ont dû |
Il a dû payer tout.
He had to pay everything.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | devais |
| tu | you (informal) | devais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | devait |
| nous | we | devions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | deviez |
| ils/elles | they | devaient |
Il devait rentrer avant minuit.
He had to be back before midnight.
How to Conjugate "devoir" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | devrai |
| tu | you (informal) | devras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | devra |
| nous | we | devrons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | devrez |
| ils/elles | they | devront |
Il devra partir très tôt.
He will have to leave very early.
How to Conjugate "devoir" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | devrais |
| tu | you (informal) | devrais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | devrait |
| nous | we | devrions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | devriez |
| ils/elles | they | devraient |
Il devrait manger des légumes.
He should eat vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions About "devoir"
Is "devoir" regular or irregular in French?
"Devoir" is an irregular French verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "devoir" mean in English?
The French verb "devoir" means "to have to/must" in English.
How do you conjugate "devoir" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → dois, tu → dois, il/elle/on → doit, nous → devons, vous → devez, ils/elles → doivent.
How many tenses does "devoir" have in French?
"Devoir" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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