See also:
👉 Être conjugation chart (with audio) »
👉 Être en train de (to be in the middle of) »
👉 Être d’accord (to agree) »
Level: A1-A2 (Beginner)
🎧 Audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a native speaker & professional voice artist from France
The French Word of the Day is être, meaning “to be.” It’s the main verb used to express identity and description in French. In this lesson, you’ll learn its 10 essential usages through audio examples recorded by Marie. By the end, you’ll know exactly when and how to use être naturally in everyday conversation.
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
✅ Related Words & Expressions
✅ Related lessons
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📘 Être meaning
Être is an essential French verb meaning “to be.” It is used to describe identity, characteristics, emotions, and location in everyday conversation. In addition to its basic meaning, être also functions as an auxiliary verb in compound tenses and plays a key role in forming the passive voice.
✅ Identity: Je suis professeur. — I am a teacher.
✅ Auxiliary verb: Je suis allé en France. — I went to France.
✅ Passive: La porte est fermée. — The door is closed.
🎧 Être pronunciation
The pronunciation of être is /ɛtʁ/, which sounds like eh-tr(uh).
📝 Être example sentences & usages
Être – to be
1. Nationality, Profession
Je suis français(e).
I am French.
Pierre est étudiant.
Pierre is a student.
2. Physical or Emotional State
Je suis heureux. / Je suis heureuse.
I am happy.
3. Location
Je suis en France.
I am in France.
4. Auxiliary in Passé Composé
Je suis allé(e) en France.
I went to France.
5. Ongoing Action (être en train de)
Je suis en train de travailler.
I am working.
6. Agreement / Shared Opinion
Je suis d’accord avec vous.
I agree with you.
7. Possession / Ownership
Le stylo est à moi.
The pen belongs to me.
8. Fixed Expression / Idiom
Je suis à l’heure.
I am on time.
9. Passive Voice
La porte est fermée.
The door is closed.
10. Opinion / Assessment
C’est une bonne idée.
That’s a good idea.
Other – peut-être (maybe)
Est-ce qu’il va venir ce soir ? – Peut-être.
Is he going to come tonight? – Maybe.
👉 Learn how été (the past participle of être) is used — it means “was” or “has/have been.”
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🤔 What is the difference between être and avoir?
In French, être means “to be” and avoir means “to have.” Both are used as main verbs, but they also function as auxiliary (helper) verbs in the passé composé.
✅ Je suis content. — I am happy.
✅ J’ai un vélo. — I have a bike.
✅ Je suis allé en France. — I went to France. (être as auxiliary)
✅ J’ai mangé. — I ate. (avoir as auxiliary)
👉 See also: French passé composé (common past tense) »
📊 Être conjugation
Here’s the basic être conjugation in the present tense.
- Je suis — I am
- Tu es — You are (informal)
- Il / Elle est — He / She is
- Nous sommes — We are
- Vous êtes — You are (formal/plural)
- Ils / Elles sont — They are
👉 See also: être conjugation in French (updated with audio)
🔗 Related words and expressions
- être en retard — to be late
- être à l’heure — to be on time
- être d’accord — to agree
- être prêt(e) — to be ready
- être en colère — to be angry
- être fatigué(e) — to be tired
- être en forme — to be in good shape / feeling well
- être en train de — to be in the middle of doing something
- être de retour — to be back
- être sur le point de — to be about to
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