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Master “Aimer”: Your Guide to French Verb Conjugation (To Like/Love)

Master “Aimer”: Your Guide to French Verb Conjugation (To Like/Love)

Level A1 (Beginner)

Aimer is an essential French verb meaning ‘to like’ and ‘to love’. The conjugation of aimer in the present tense is: J’aime (I like), tu aimes (you like), il/elle aime (he/she likes), nous aimons (we like), vous aimez (you like) and ils/elles aiment (they like).

Aimer (to like, to love) conjugation tables

Conjugate “Aimer” in French: All Forms & Meanings Explained

Aimer conjugation chart

Aimer conjugation charts

Present tense (present indicative)

In the present tense ‘j’aime’ translates to ‘I like you’ and ‘I love you’.

J'aimeI like, loveJ'aime la pizza.I like pizza.
Tu aimesYou like, love (familiar, singular)Tu aimes la glace.You like ice cream.
Il/elle aimeHe/she likes, lovesIl aime faire du ski.He likes skiing.
Nous aimonsWe like, loveElle aime habiter en France.She likes living in France.
Vous aimezYou like (formal, plural)Vous aimez cette chanson.You like this song.
Ils/elles aimentThey likeIls aime leur maison.They like their house.

Passé composé (compound past)

In the passé composé ‘j’ai aimé’ can translate to ‘I liked’ and ‘I loved’.

J'ai aiméI likedJ'ai aimé le voyage.I liked the trip.
Tu as aiméYou liked (familiar, singular)Tu as aimé le repas.You liked the meal.
Il/elle a aiméHe/she likedElle a aimé les fleurs.She liked the flowers.
Nous avons aiméWe likedNous avons aimé le musée.We liked the museum.
Vous avez aiméYou liked (formal, plural)Vous avez aimé la leçon.You liked the lesson.
Ils, elles ont aiméThey likedIls ont ont aimé leur hôtel.They liked their hotel.

Passé simple

The passé simple is a literary past tense and equates grammatical to the passé composé

J'aimaiI likedJ'aimai le film.I liked the movie.
Tu aimasYou liked (informal, singular)Tu aimas le roman.You liked the novel.
Il/elle aimaHe/she likedElle aima le repas.She liked the meal.
nous aimâmesWe likedNous aimâmes le poème.We liked the poem.
Vous aimâtesYou liked (formal, plural)Vous aimâtes le petit-déjeuner.You liked the breakfast.
Ils/elles aimèrentThey likedIls aimèrent le voyage en Espagne.They liked the trip to Spain.

Imperfect (l’imparfait)

The imperfect tense ‘j’aimais’ translates to ‘I used to like’, ‘I was liking’ and ‘I liked’.

J'aimaisI used to likeAvant, j'aimais manger la viande.Before, I used to like eating meat.
Tu aimaisYou used to like (familiar, singular)Quand j'étais un enfant, j'aimais faire du ski.When I was a child, I used to like skiing.
Il/elle aimaitHe/she used to likeDans le passé, elle aimait faire du surf.In the past, she used to like surfing.
Nous aimionsWe used to likeAvant, nous aimions regarder la télé tous les soir.Before, we used to like watching TV every night.
Vous aimiezYou used to like (formal, plural)Vous aimiez faire du ski quand vous aviez quinze ans.You used to like skiing when you were 15 years-old.
Ils/elles aimaientThey used to likeIls aimaient faire de la randonée quand ils habitaient dans les montagnes.They used to like hiking when they lived in the mountains.

Near future (le futur proche)

In the near future tense ‘je vais aimer’ translates to ‘I am going to like’.

Je vais aimerI'm going to likeJe vais aimer ce roman.I'm going to like this novel.
Tu vas aimerYou're going to like (familiar, singular)Tu vas aimer la soupe.You're going to like the soup.
Il/elle va aimerHe's/she's going to likeElle va aimer la nouvelle voiture.She's going to like the new car.
Nous allons aimerWe're going to likeNous allons aimer cette belle région.We're going to like this beautiful region.
Vous allez aimerYou're going to like (formal, plural)Vous allez aimer cette chanson.You're going to like this song.
Ils/elles vont aimerThey're going to likeIls vont aimer leur voyage en Espagne.They're going to like their trip to Spain.

Simple future (le futur simple)

In the future tense ‘j’aimerai’ translates to ‘I will like or ‘I will love’.

J'aimeraiI will likeIl pense que j'aimerai la chanson.He thinks I'll like the song.
Tu aimerasYou will like (familiar, singular)J'espère que tu aimeras le repas.I hope you'll like the meal.
Il/elle aimeraHe/she will likeJe ne sais pas s'il aimera la soupe.I don't know if he'll like the soup.
Nous aimeronsWe will likeIl dit que nous aimerons le voyage.He's saying we'll like the trip.
Vous aimerezYou will like (formal, plural)Je suis sûr que vous aimerez le film.I'm sure you'll like the movie.
Ils/elles aimerontThey will likeJ'espère qu'ils aimeront la voiture.I hope they'll like the car.

Conditional (le conditionnel)

In the conditional ‘j’aimerais’ translates to ‘I would like’ and ‘I would love’.

J'aimeraisI would likeJ'aimerais partir demain.I would like to leave tomorrow.
Tu aimeraisYou would like (familiar, singular)Tu aimerais le chocolat.You would like the chocolate.
Il/elle aimeraitHe/she would likeIl aimerait acheter la voiture.He would like to buy the car.
Nous aimerionsWe would likeNous aimerions vendre la maison.We'd like to sell the house.
Vous aimeriezYou would like (formal, plural)Vous aimeriez ces billets.You would like these tickets.
Ils/elles aimeraientThey would likeIls aimeraient danser ensemble.They would like to dance together.

Past conditional (le passé du conditionnel)

The past conditional ‘j’aurais aimé’ translates to ‘I would have liked’.

J'aurais aiméI would have likedJ'aurais aimé partir un peu plus tôt.I would have liked to leave a bit earlier.
Tu aurais aiméYou would have liked (informal, singular)Qu'est-ce que tu aurais aimé faire?What would you have liked to do?
Il/elle aurait aiméHe/she would have likedIl aurait aimé la pizza.He would have liked the pizza.
Nous aurions aiméWe would have likedNous aurions aimé ce restaurant.We would have liked this restaurant.
Vous auriez aiméYou would have liked (formal, pluralVous auriez aimé visiter l'Italie.You would have liked visiting Italy.
Ils auraient aiméThey would have likedIls auraient aimé connaître cette région.They would have liked getting to know this region.

Subjunctive (le subjonctif)

In the subjunctive ‘que j’aime’ translates to ‘that I like’.

que j'aimethat I likeIl doute que j'aime la soupe.He doubts I like the soup.
que tu aimesthat you like (singular, informal)Il est heureux que tu aimes la pizza.He's happy you like the pizza.
qu'il/elle aimethat he/she likesJe suis content qu'elle aime les skis.I'm happy she likes the skis.
que nous aimionsthat we likeIl est content que nous aimions le repas.He's happy we like the meal.
que vous aimiezthat you like (plural, formal)Je suis ravi que vous aimiez le restaurant.I'm delighted you like the restaurant.
qu'ils/elles aimentthat they likeIl faut qu'ils aiment la chambre.They need to like the room.

Common uses of aimer

1. Aimer + noun

The most common usage of aimer is to express the liking of things. For example:

  • J’aime les montagnes. I like mountains.
  • Je n’aime pas l’océan. I don’t like the ocean.

2. Aimer + verb in infinitive form

The second most common usage of aimer is to express the liking of actions. For example:

  • J’aime chanter cette chanson. I like singing this song.
  • Je n’aime pas manger le chou-fleur. I don’t like eating cauliflower.

3. I love you = je t’aime

The verb aimer is used in the expression, je t’aime, which means I love you.

4. Aimer bien = to like

The French combine aimer with the adverb bien (well) to mean ‘to like’. For example:

  • J’aime bien faire du ski en semaine. I like skiing on weekdays.

5. Aimer mieux = to prefer

When combined with the word mieux (better), aimer mieux means to prefer. For example:

  • J’aime mieux cette station de ski. I prefer this ski area.

6. s’aimer = to like or love each other

In the reflexive form, s’aimer means to like or love each other. For example:

  • Marc et sylvie s’aime depuis le lycée. Marc and Sylvie have loved each other since high school.

Aimer vs. adorer

Aimer means “to like” and “to love” while adorer can also mean ‘to adore’ and ‘to love’. There are subtle differences between these two verbs. Aimer can be used for both people and things. For example:

  • Je t’aime. I love you.
  • J’aime ce chocolat. I like/love this chocolate.

The verb adorer, however, is mostly limited to things, objects and actives. Using adorer for people would sound awkward to the French ear.

  • J’adore ce chocolat. I adore/love this chocolat.
  • J’adore le ski. I l adore/love skiing.

That said, there is no fine line between aimer and adorer. Hence, the song title Oui, je l’adore (Yes, I love him) by Pauline Ester.


Essential French verbs

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David Issokson

David Issokson is the founder and French teacher of Frenchlearner.com. With over 30 years of experience as a French learner and speaker, he is passionate about making the language accessible and enjoyable for everyone. David is dedicated to providing clear, practical, and effective resources to help you master French. Learn more about FrenchLearner on our about us page. Visit davidissokson.com, David's personal website.

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