The French verb "lire" means "to read" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "lire" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "lire" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | lis |
| tu | you (informal) | lis |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | lit |
| nous | we | lisons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | lisez |
| ils/elles | they | lisent |
Elle lit un roman passionnant.
She reads an exciting novel.
How to Conjugate "lire" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai lu |
| tu | you (informal) | as lu |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a lu |
| nous | we | avons lu |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez lu |
| ils/elles | they | ont lu |
Il a lu la lettre.
He read the letter.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | lisais |
| tu | you (informal) | lisais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | lisait |
| nous | we | lisions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | lisiez |
| ils/elles | they | lisaient |
Il lisait beaucoup de romans.
He was reading many novels.
How to Conjugate "lire" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | lirai |
| tu | you (informal) | liras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | lira |
| nous | we | lirons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | lirez |
| ils/elles | they | liront |
Elle lira une belle histoire.
She will read a beautiful story.
How to Conjugate "lire" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | lirais |
| tu | you (informal) | lirais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | lirait |
| nous | we | lirions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | liriez |
| ils/elles | they | liraient |
Il lirait les nouvelles le matin.
He would read the news in the morning.
Frequently Asked Questions About "lire"
Is "lire" regular or irregular in French?
"Lire" is an irregular French verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "lire" mean in English?
The French verb "lire" means "to read" in English.
How do you conjugate "lire" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → lis, tu → lis, il/elle/on → lit, nous → lisons, vous → lisez, ils/elles → lisent.
How many tenses does "lire" have in French?
"Lire" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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