How do you conjugate devoir in the present tense?

The present forms include je dois, tu dois, il doit, nous devons, vous devez, and ils doivent.

French verb · present tense

Devoir Conjugation in French

devoir means to have to or to owe in French. Irregular: the present uses dois, doit, devons, devez, and doivent. In the present tense, the forms include je dois, nous devons, and ils doivent.

Devoir in the present tense

The table shows the six standard subject patterns. The same form covers il, elle, and on; another shared form covers ils and elles.

Pronoun	Present form	Pronunciation
je	dois
tu	dois
il / elle / on	doit
nous	devons
vous	devez
ils / elles	doivent

How devoir works

Devoir expresses obligation or what someone owes; a following infinitive means must or have to. Irregular: the present uses dois, doit, devons, devez, and doivent.

Devoir examples in French

Je dois partir bientôt.

I have to leave soon.

Tu dois appeler ta mère.

You must call your mother.

Elle doit finir ce rapport.

She has to finish this report.

Nous devons attendre ici.

We have to wait here.

Ils doivent payer demain.

They have to pay tomorrow.

Practice the present tense

Try five forms of devoir. Your answers count toward verb practice progress.

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Verb forms

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elles + devoir

must / owe

pouvoir — can vouloir — to want faire — to do / make

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Frequently asked questions about devoir

What does devoir mean in French?: Devoir expresses obligation or what someone owes; a following infinitive means must or have to.
Is devoir a regular verb?: Irregular: the present uses dois, doit, devons, devez, and doivent.
How do you conjugate devoir in the present tense?: The present forms include je dois, tu dois, il doit, nous devons, vous devez, and ils doivent.