falloir
Defective & Impersonal Level A2 ⭐ #9 Most CommonEnglish translation: to be necessary / must / to need
Présent (Present)
Current universal necessity
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| il | faut |
- Il faut manger pour vivre. — One must eat to live.
- Il faut que nous partions maintenant. — We must leave now.
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Frequently Asked Questions: FALLOIR
Is "falloir" a regular or irregular verb in French? ▾
"falloir" is classified as a Defective & Impersonal verb in French. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "Only exists in 3rd person singular: il faut / il a fallu / il faudra / qu'il faille". Never used with je, tu, nous, vous, or ils. 'Il' here is a dummy grammatical pronoun representing no person. Always followed by an infinitive ('il faut partir') or a subjunctive clause ('il faut que tu viennes').
What does "falloir" mean in English? ▾
In English, "falloir" translates primarily to "to be necessary / must / to need". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.
What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "falloir"? ▾
A frequent error is saying "Je faux aller au travail." instead of "Il faut que j'aille au travail. (or: Je dois aller)". Why? Falloir is strictly impersonal (only 'il faut'). For personal subjects, use 'devoir' (Je dois).
What are common idioms or expressions with "falloir"? ▾
A popular idiom is "Il s'en faut de peu" which means "It was a close call / nearly happened" (e.g. "Il s'en est fallu de peu !").
How can I practice and memorize "falloir" conjugations? ▾
Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.
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Other Important French Verbs to Study
to be
to have / to be (age)
to do / to make
to go
to be able to / can
to want
to take / have (food/drink)
to see / watch
to come
to speak / talk
must / to have to / owe
to know (facts / how to do)
to believe, think
to live, exist
to put / to place / to set
to leave / to depart
to drink
to understand / to comprehend / to include
to hold / to keep / to take place