Most Common -IR Verbs in French 📖🇫🇷

After the -ER verbs, the -IR verbs are the second largest group of French verbs. They are very common in everyday speech and are mostly regular, following a simple and predictable conjugation pattern.

This guide gives you the most common -IR verbs in French, with their English translations, conjugation examples, and sentences for practice.

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🔑 Why Learn -IR Verbs?

• They are among the most frequently used verbs in French.

• Most follow a regular conjugation pattern, which is easy to learn.

• Many describe actions, states, and feelings useful for everyday conversation.

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📌 Conjugation Pattern of Regular -IR Verbs

Take the verb finir (to finish) as an example:

• Je finis – I finish

• Tu finis – You finish

• Il/elle finit – He/She finishes

• Nous finissons – We finish

• Vous finissez – You (formal/plural) finish

• Ils/elles finissent – They finish

👉 Most regular -IR verbs follow this pattern.

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📝 Most Common Regular -IR Verbs in French

Here are useful -IR verbs you’ll encounter daily:

1. Finir – to finish

2. Choisir – to choose

3. Réussir – to succeed

4. Grandir – to grow

5. Maigrir – to lose weight

6. Grossir – to gain weight

7. Rougir – to blush, turn red

8. Blanchir – to whiten

9. Noircir – to blacken, darken

10. Punir – to punish

11. Fleurir – to bloom

12. Bâtir – to build

13. Unir – to unite

14. Applaudir – to applaud, clap

15. Nourrir – to feed

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⚠️ Common Irregular -IR Verbs

Not all -IR verbs follow the regular pattern. Some of the most used French verbs are irregular:

• Dormir – to sleep

• Partir – to leave

• Sortir – to go out

• Servir – to serve

• Mentir – to lie

• Sentir – to feel, to smell

• Courir – to run

• Venir – to come

• Tenir – to hold

• Ouvrir – to open (conjugated like -ER verbs, though it ends in -IR)

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💬 Example Sentences with -IR Verbs

• Je finis mes devoirs. – I finish my homework.

• Nous choisissons un restaurant. – We choose a restaurant.

• Elle réussit à l’examen. – She passes the exam.

• Ils dorment huit heures par nuit. – They sleep eight hours a night.

• Tu viens avec moi ? – Are you coming with me?

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🎯 Practice Activity

👉 Pick 5 -IR verbs and make your own sentences in French. For example:

• Je pars demain matin. (I leave tomorrow morning.)

• Nous sortons avec des amis. (We are going out with friends.)

• Elle grossit parce qu’elle mange beaucoup de chocolat. (She is gaining weight because she eats a lot of chocolate.)

• Les fleurs fleurissent au printemps. (The flowers bloom in spring.)

• Vous finissez toujours vos projets à temps. (You always finish your projects on time.)

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✅ Conclusion

The -IR verbs in French are the second most common verb group and are essential for daily conversation. By mastering both the regular -IR verbs (like finir and choisir) and the irregular ones (like dormir and venir), you’ll greatly expand your ability to communicate in French.

If you liked this, check out our other French verb lists to keep improving step by step!