200 Most Common French Verbs: List & Conjugation Reference
This page lists 200 high-frequency French verbs in a learning order (not alphabetical): the same priority as in the Croissant Verbs app, so être, avoir, faire, and other core auxiliaries and modals appear first. Roughly 80% of everyday French runs on a small set of verbs like these—mastering them early gives you the best return on study time.
Each row shows the infinitive plus a short English meaning and links to a dedicated verb page with full conjugation tables for the indicative (present, imperfect, passé composé, future, etc.), subjunctive, conditional, imperative, and non-finite forms where available—ideal to compare endings, spot irregular stems, and prepare speaking and writing. Everything is free to browse; no account required.
Prefer the full catalog? Browse the French verb index or open conjugation lessons and guides.
How to use this list (concrete study tips)
- One verb, three tenses: for each new verb, drill present, then passé composé (notice when the auxiliary is être vs avoir), then a future form (futur simple or futur proche) before you add the next verb. See our 10-minute daily conjugation routine.
- Short sentences, not bare infinitives: say Je fais du sport instead of only faire—context speeds recall in real conversation.
- Know your verb groups: -er verbs behave differently from many -ir and irregular stems. Read French verb groups explained so you are not memorizing thousands of unrelated endings.
- Pair reference with drills: open a verb page for the rule, then read present tense rules and how to build a daily conjugation habit— then drill in the Croissant Verbs app.
Related articles
Verbs in learning order (1–200)
Entries are numbered for quick reference. Each French infinitive links to its conjugation page with tables for indicative, subjunctive, conditional, imperative, and non-finite forms where available.
1. ÊtreTo be
2. AvoirTo have
3. FaireTo do
4. DireTo say
5. AllerTo go
6. VoirTo see
7. SavoirTo know
8. PouvoirCan
9. VouloirTo want
10. VenirTo come
11. PrendreTo take
12. DevoirTo have to
13. CroireTo believe
14. TrouverTo find
15. DonnerTo give
16. ParlerTo speak
17. MettreTo put
18. PasserTo pass
19. RegarderTo watch
20. AimerTo like
21. DemanderTo ask
22. ResterTo stay
23. RépondreTo answer
24. EntendreTo hear
25. PenserTo think
26. ArriverTo arrive
27. ConnaîtreTo know
28. DevenirTo become
29. ComprendreTo understand
30. AttendreTo wait
31. CommencerTo start
32. FinirTo finish
33. SentirTo feel
34. SortirTo go out
35. VivreTo live
36. ChercherTo look for
37. MarcherTo walk
38. ÉcrireTo write
39. PerdreTo lose
40. AppelerTo call
41. ArrêterTo stop
42. OuvrirTo open
43. FermerTo close
44. MangerTo eat
45. TravaillerTo work
46. PartirTo leave
47. RevenirTo return
48. ChangerTo change
49. UtiliserTo use
50. ÉcouterTo listen
51. ContinuerTo continue
52. RéfléchirTo think
53. SouvenirTo remember
54. SemblerTo seem
55. TenirTo hold
56. RendreTo give back
57. SuivreTo follow
58. LaisserTo leave
59. LireTo read
60. BoireTo drink
61. DormirTo sleep
62. JouerTo play
63. AcheterTo buy
64. VendreTo sell
65. PayerTo pay
66. ApprendreTo learn
67. AiderTo help
68. ChoisirTo choose
69. TomberTo fall
70. ExpliquerTo explain
71. EssayerTo try
72. DéciderTo decide
73. EnvoyerTo send
74. EntrerTo enter
75. PartagerTo share
76. AccepterTo accept
77. RefuserTo refuse
78. ProposerTo suggest
79. ObtenirTo get
80. RisquerTo risk
81. VérifierTo check
82. RechercherTo search
83. RéaliserTo achieve
84. GérerTo manage
85. PrévoirTo foresee
86. ProfiterTo enjoy
87. RécupérerTo recover
88. RentrerTo go home
89. ReprendreTo resume
90. RetournerTo return
91. RéussirTo succeed
92. SouhaiterTo wish
93. SuffireTo be enough
94. TerminerTo finish
95. PorterTo wear
96. MontrerTo show
97. RecevoirTo receive
98. ServirTo serve
99. GagnerTo win
100. RappelerTo call back
101. PoserTo put
102. OffrirTo offer
103. GarderTo keep
104. EspérerTo hope
105. PréférerTo prefer
106. PréparerTo prepare
107. CompterTo count
108. RencontrerTo meet
109. QuitterTo leave
110. PrésenterTo present
111. AgirTo act
112. PermettreTo allow
113. EmpêcherTo prevent
114. AssurerTo ensure
115. OccuperTo occupy
116. DécouvrirTo discover
117. ReconnaîtreTo recognise
118. ManquerTo miss
119. RemettreTo put back
120. ÉviterTo avoid
121. ExisterTo exist
122. DiscuterTo discuss
123. ImaginerTo imagine
124. RetrouverTo find again
125. IndiquerTo indicate
126. ExprimerTo express
127. ValoirTo be worth
128. ConsidérerTo consider
129. ÉtudierTo study
130. RireTo laugh
131. OublierTo forget
132. MourirTo die
133. CoûterTo cost
134. DépenserTo spend
135. TournerTo turn
136. OrganiserTo organise
137. RespecterTo respect
138. TesterTo test
139. SupprimerTo delete
140. AugmenterTo increase
141. DiminuerTo decrease
142. DirigerTo lead
143. PromettreTo promise
144. RéagirTo react
145. RecommencerTo start again
146. RéduireTo reduce
147. RegretterTo regret
148. RemarquerTo notice
149. RemercierTo thank
150. RenseignerTo inform
151. RenvoyerTo send back
152. RepartirTo leave again
153. RépéterTo repeat
154. ReposerTo rest
155. RéserverTo book
156. RessemblerTo look like
157. RessentirTo feel
158. RevoirTo see again
159. SignerTo sign
160. SouffrirTo suffer
161. SourireTo smile
162. SubirTo undergo
163. SurvivreTo survive
164. TéléchargerTo download
165. TéléphonerTo phone
166. TraiterTo treat
167. TransmettreTo transmit
168. TraverserTo cross
169. ValiderTo validate
170. VisiterTo visit
171. JeterTo throw
172. VoyagerTo travel
173. MonterTo go up
174. DescendreTo go down
175. RaconterTo tell
176. CourirTo run
177. ConstruireTo build
178. CouperTo cut
179. TirerTo pull
180. LeverTo raise
181. PousserTo push
182. PrévenirTo warn
183. DévelopperTo develop
184. ConduireTo drive
185. ProduireTo produce
186. RejoindreTo join
187. HabiterTo live
188. AmenerTo bring
189. ApporterTo bring
190. EmmenerTo take
191. EmporterTo take
192. EnleverTo remove
193. RemplacerTo replace
194. ProtégerTo protect
195. DéfendreTo defend
196. DécrireTo describe
197. RésoudreTo solve
198. ConvaincreTo convince
199. ObligerTo oblige
200. AutoriserTo allow
Frequently asked questions
- How are the 200 verbs on this page ordered?
- They follow the same learning order as the Croissant Verbs app: verbs are sorted by ascending app verb id (verbeId), so core verbs like être, avoir, and faire appear first—not alphabetically and not by a raw frequency score.
- Does each verb have full conjugation tables?
- Yes. Every row links to a dedicated verb page with conjugation tables for the main moods and tenses, ideal for reference and practice.
- Is this French verb list free to use?
- Yes. The list and conjugation pages are free to browse online with no sign-up required.
- Why is this list not in alphabetical order?
- Verbs follow ascending verbeId so high-utility verbs (être, avoir, faire, aller, etc.) come first. That matches how learners actually progress better than sorting A–Z by infinitive.
- Which tenses should I practice first with these verbs?
- Start with the present tense, then add passé composé (pay attention to être vs avoir as auxiliaries), then futur simple or near future depending on your goals. Each verb page lists the main moods for reference.