être

fr
en
Change language
Translating...
to be, to exist, to be, to be, to have been
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
Italiano
Italian
/ɛtʁ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
To have a state, identity or presence, and to help describe what happens.
Practice using être in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Il cherche à distinguer l'être de l'apparence.
    He seeks to distinguish being from appearance.
  • Il est encore une ancienne coutume dans ce village.
    An old custom still exists in this village.
  • Tous les êtres vivants ont besoin d'eau.
    All living beings need water.
  • Cette question touche au fond de notre être.
    This question touches the core of our being.
  • Ils étaient déjà arrivés.
    They had already arrived.

Similar words

subsister
existence
se rendre
exister
individu
aller
créature
se trouver
essence
vivant

Meanings

Have an identity or state

verb
everyday
neutral
To link someone or something to a quality, identity, place or owner.

Examples

  • Marie est médecin.
    Marie is a doctor.
  • Je suis fatigué aujourd'hui.
    I am tired today.
  • Le livre est sur la table.
    The book is on the table.
  • Ces clés sont à moi.
    These keys are mine.
  • Nous sommes prêts à partir.
    We are ready to leave.

Similar words

se trouver
demeurer
rester

Exist

verb
existence
formal
To exist or be real, even without a description of what exists.

Examples

  • Je pense, donc je suis.
    I think, therefore I am.
  • Ce temps n'est plus.
    That time is no more.
  • Il est des choses qu'on ne comprend pas.
    There are things we do not understand.
  • Ce qui est ne peut être ignoré.
    What exists cannot be ignored.
  • Il est encore une ancienne coutume dans ce village.
    An old custom still exists in this village.

Similar words

exister
vivre
subsister

Form a tense or passive

verb
grammar
neutral
To help form compound tenses with certain verbs and all reflexive verbs, or to form a passive construction.

Examples

  • Je suis allé au marché.
    I went to the market.
  • Elle est partie tôt.
    She left early.
  • Nous nous sommes levés à sept heures.
    We got up at seven.
  • La porte est fermée chaque soir.
    The door is closed every evening.
  • Ils étaient déjà arrivés.
    They had already arrived.

Similar words

Have gone somewhere

verb
movement
informal
In everyday speech, to have gone to a place, using a compound tense where aller might otherwise be expected.

Examples

  • J'ai été chez Paul hier.
    I went to Paul's place yesterday.
  • Tu as déjà été à Lyon ?
    Have you ever been to Lyon?
  • Elle a été au cinéma samedi.
    She went to the cinema on Saturday.
  • Nous avons été voir le médecin.
    We went to see the doctor.
  • Ils ont été au marché ce matin.
    They went to the market this morning.

Similar words

aller
se rendre
passer

Living being

noun
life
neutral
A living creature or person.

Examples

  • Tous les êtres vivants ont besoin d'eau.
    All living beings need water.
  • Un être humain attend devant la porte.
    A human being is waiting at the door.
  • Elle a perdu un être cher.
    She lost a loved one.
  • Chaque être mérite le respect.
    Every being deserves respect.
  • On ignore quel être a laissé cette trace.
    We do not know what creature left this mark.

Similar words

créature
individu
personne
vivant

Existence itself

noun
philosophy
formal
The fact or nature of existing, especially when contrasted with appearance or nonexistence.

Examples

  • Le livre oppose l'être et le paraître.
    The book contrasts being and appearance.
  • Le philosophe s'interroge sur l'être.
    The philosopher wonders about being.
  • Cette question touche au fond de notre être.
    This question touches the core of our being.
  • La réflexion porte sur l'être des choses.
    The reflection concerns the being of things.
  • Il cherche à distinguer l'être de l'apparence.
    He seeks to distinguish being from appearance.

Similar words

existence
réalité
essence

Etymology

From popular Latin essere, based on classical Latin esse, ‘to be’.

FAQ

What does être mean?

As a verb, it usually means to be. It can also mean to exist.

When is être an auxiliary?

It helps form compound tenses of certain verbs and reflexive verbs, as well as passive constructions.

Can être mean a person?

Yes. Un être humain means a human being.

What are the present forms of être?

They are suis, es, est, sommes, êtes and sont.

Where does être come from?

It comes from popular Latin essere, based on Latin esse.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...