The French verb "rire" means "to laugh" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "rire" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "rire" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ris |
| tu | you (informal) | ris |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | rit |
| nous | we | rions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | riez |
| ils/elles | they | rient |
Elle rit aux éclats dans la rue.
She laughs out loud in the street.
How to Conjugate "rire" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai ri |
| tu | you (informal) | as ri |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a ri |
| nous | we | avons ri |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez ri |
| ils/elles | they | ont ri |
Il a ri avec nous.
He laughed with us.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | riais |
| tu | you (informal) | riais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | riait |
| nous | we | riions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | riiez |
| ils/elles | they | riaient |
Il riait souvent tout seul.
He used to laugh often all alone.
How to Conjugate "rire" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | rirai |
| tu | you (informal) | riras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | rira |
| nous | we | rirons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | rirez |
| ils/elles | they | riront |
Il rira avec ses amis.
He will laugh with his friends.
How to Conjugate "rire" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | rirais |
| tu | you (informal) | rirais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | rirait |
| nous | we | ririons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | ririez |
| ils/elles | they | riraient |
Il rirait aux larmes ce soir.
He would laugh to tears tonight.
Frequently Asked Questions About "rire"
Is "rire" regular or irregular in French?
"Rire" is an irregular French verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "rire" mean in English?
The French verb "rire" means "to laugh" in English.
How do you conjugate "rire" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → ris, tu → ris, il/elle/on → rit, nous → rions, vous → riez, ils/elles → rient.
How many tenses does "rire" have in French?
"Rire" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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