Vocabulary: 50 key verbs

High-frequency verbs from the vocabulary list. They appear in every paper, so learn their meanings and practise them in sentences.

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Everyday verbs

Regular -er verbs: je demande, tu demandes, il demande. Irregular ones are marked in other lessons.
FrenchEnglish
demanderto ask
répondreto answer
acheterto buy
chercherto look for
trouverto find
montrerto show
direto say, to tell
lireto read
écrireto write
ouvrirto open
fermerto close
payerto pay
attendreto wait (for)
oublierto forget
essayerto try
utiliserto use
envoyerto send

Doing things

Remember: chercher = to look for (no pour); attendre = to wait for (no pour).
FrenchEnglish
arrêterto stop
continuerto continue
commencerto start
finirto finish
déciderto decide
choisirto choose
améliorerto improve
organiserto organise
protégerto protect
réduireto reduce
sauverto save
jeterto throw (away)
couperto cut
porterto wear, to carry
tenirto hold
mettreto put
rendreto give back

People and feelings

Rencontrer = to meet (by chance or for the first time). Quitter needs an object: je quitte la maison.
FrenchEnglish
aiderto help
inviterto invite
rencontrerto meet
quitterto leave (a place or person)
partagerto share
respecterto respect
espérerto hope
regretterto regret
mériterto deserve
pleurerto cry
rireto laugh
sourireto smile
rêverto dream
croireto believe
comprendreto understand
reconnaîtreto recognise
discuterto discuss, to chat
Worked example

Translate: I am looking for my keys but I can't find them.

  1. I am looking for = je cherche (no word for 'for')
  2. my keys = mes clés
  3. I can't find them = je ne les trouve pas

Answer: Je cherche mes clés mais je ne les trouve pas.

Key idea

Demander, répondre, acheter, chercher, trouver, montrer, dire, lire, écrire, ouvrir, fermer, attendre, oublier, essayer, envoyer. Arrêter, commencer, finir, choisir, améliorer, protéger, réduire, jeter, porter, mettre, rendre. Aider, rencontrer, quitter, partager, espérer, mériter, rire, sourire, croire, comprendre.

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does attendre mean?

    1. to look for
    2. to open
    3. to say, to tell
    4. to wait (for)
    Show the answer

    Answer: to wait (for)

    Attendre = to wait (for).

  2. Which is the French for "to ask"?

    1. essayer
    2. demander
    3. chercher
    4. dire
    Show the answer

    Answer: demander

    To ask = demander.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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