naître
Irregular Level A2 ⭐ #72 Most CommonEnglish translation: to be born
Présent
Being born / emerging.
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| je | nais | |
| tu | nais | |
| il/elle/on | naît | |
| nous | naissons | |
| vous | naissez | |
| ils/elles | naissent |
🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode
Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'naître'
Tap anywhere to reveal conjugation ↻
Tap to flip back
Keyboard shortcuts: Space to flip • ← / → arrow keys to switch
Frequently Asked Questions: NAÎTRE
Is "naître" a regular or irregular verb in French? ▾
"naître" is classified as a Irregular verb in French. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "nais, naît, naissons / né (participle with être)". Takes a circumflex over 'i' before 't' in the 3rd person singular present (il naît). Past participle is 'né'. Used with être in passé composé: 'Je suis né(e) en France'. Note the circumflex on 'naît'.
What does "naître" mean in English? ▾
In English, "naître" translates primarily to "to be born". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.
What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "naître"? ▾
A frequent error is saying "J'ai né à Paris" instead of "Je suis né(e) à Paris". Why? Naître takes être in compound tenses and requires participle agreement.
What are common idioms or expressions with "naître"? ▾
A popular idiom is "Voir le jour" which means "To be born / see the light of day" (e.g. "Ce projet est enfin né.").
How can I practice and memorize "naître" 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.
Struggling with 'naître' in real conversations?
Memorizing charts is only 20% of fluency. Speak naturally with certified native French tutors on Preply. Book your first trial lesson today with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks
Test your understanding of 'naître' across tenses
How do you say 'She was born in Lyon'?
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 be necessary / must / to need
to hold / to keep / to take place
to read / to interpret
to write / to compose
to open / to unlock
to wait / to wait for
to choose / to select
to return (give back) / to make (render)
to leave (behind) / to let (allow)
to die
to serve / to be useful