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’.
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Pronunciation
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
Word origin
Avouer comes from the Latin verb advocare (to call to one’s aid, to summon).
Related French Vocabulary
- Dire Conjugation: How To Conjugate “To Say” In French
- Raconter Conjugation Chart – to tell, recount
- Raconter des salades (expression)
