Je peux vous aider.
I can help you.
French verb · present tense
Pouvoir Conjugation in French
pouvoir means to be able to in French. Irregular: the singular uses peux, peux, peut, while the plural uses pouvons, pouvez, peuvent. In the present tense, the forms include je peux, nous pouvons, and ils peuvent.
Pouvoir 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 | peux | |
| tu | peux | |
| il / elle / on | peut | |
| nous | pouvons | |
| vous | pouvez | |
| ils / elles | peuvent |
How pouvoir works
Pouvoir expresses ability or possibility and is usually followed by an infinitive. Irregular: the singular uses peux, peux, peut, while the plural uses pouvons, pouvez, peuvent.
Pouvoir examples in French
Tu peux venir demain ?
Can you come tomorrow?
Elle peut ouvrir la porte.
She can open the door.
Nous pouvons attendre ici.
We can wait here.
Ils peuvent parler français.
They can speak French.
Practice the present tense
Try five forms of pouvoir. Your answers count toward verb practice progress.
Play French conjugation games
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vous + pouvoir
can
Related French verbs
Frequently asked questions about pouvoir
- What does pouvoir mean in French?
- Pouvoir expresses ability or possibility and is usually followed by an infinitive.
- Is pouvoir a regular verb?
- Irregular: the singular uses peux, peux, peut, while the plural uses pouvons, pouvez, peuvent.
- How do you conjugate pouvoir in the present tense?
- The present forms include je peux, tu peux, il peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, and ils peuvent.