The French verb "être" means "to be" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "être" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "être" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | suis |
| tu | you (informal) | es |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | est |
| nous | we | sommes |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | êtes |
| ils/elles | they | sont |
Il est très gentil aujourd'hui.
He is very kind today.
How to Conjugate "être" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai été |
| tu | you (informal) | as été |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a été |
| nous | we | avons été |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez été |
| ils/elles | they | ont été |
Il a été absent aujourd'hui.
He was absent today.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | étais |
| tu | you (informal) | étais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | était |
| nous | we | étions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | étiez |
| ils/elles | they | étaient |
Il était souvent à la maison.
He was often at home.
How to Conjugate "être" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | serai |
| tu | you (informal) | seras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | sera |
| nous | we | serons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | serez |
| ils/elles | they | seront |
Il sera content de te voir.
He will be happy to see you.
How to Conjugate "être" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | serais |
| tu | you (informal) | serais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | serait |
| nous | we | serions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | seriez |
| ils/elles | they | seraient |
Il serait ici demain matin.
He would be here tomorrow morning.
Frequently Asked Questions About "être"
Is "être" regular or irregular in French?
"Être" is an irregular French verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "être" mean in English?
The French verb "être" means "to be" in English.
How do you conjugate "être" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → suis, tu → es, il/elle/on → est, nous → sommes, vous → êtes, ils/elles → sont.
How many tenses does "être" have in French?
"Être" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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