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French Word of the Day: Understanding “Avouer” (To Admit)

French Word of the Day: Understanding “Avouer” (To Admit)

Level A2 (upper beginner)

This Word of the Day lesson explains how to use the A2 level (upper beginner) verb avouer, meaning ‘to admit’ and ‘to confess’. Avouer comes from the Latin verb advocare (to call to one’s aid, to summon).

avouer – IPA pronunciation [a.v.we]

How to Use “Avouer”: French Word of the Day

French Word of the Day: Avouer (to admit)

How to Use “Avouer”: Example Sentences

For this first sentence, avouer is a transitive verb and is followed by a direct object, meaning “to admit to something”.

Le voleur avoue son crime. Il a volé les bijoux.

The thief confesses to his crime. He stole the jewelry.


In this second example sentence, the la is a direct object pronoun meaning “her”.

J’avoue que je la trouve très belle !

I admit that I find her to be very beautiful!


For this final sentence, refuser (to refuse) is followed by de + infinitive to mean “to refuse to do something”

Pourquoi est-ce que tu refuses d’avouer la vérité ?

You do you refuse to admit the truth?


Conjugation of “Avouer” (Present Tense)

Avouer is a regular ER verb. This means that it’s endings are the same as parler (to speak) when conjugated in the present tense.

J’avoue I admit (or confess)
Tu avoues You admit (singular, informal)
Il, elle avoue He, she admits
Nous avouons We admit
Vous avouez You admit (plural, formal)
Ils, elles avouent They admit


Related French Vocabulary

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David Issokson
David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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