Avoir (to have) · Présent
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Avoir in the French présent is: j'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont. The present of avoir expresses possession or current state: 'j'ai vingt ans' (I am 20 years old — literally 'I have 20 years'), 'tu as faim' (you are hungry — 'you have hunger'). French uses avoir where English uses 'to be' for age, hunger, thirst, fear, and several other states.
| To Have | Avoir |
|---|---|
| I have | j'ai |
| you have | tu as |
| he/she has | il/elle/on a |
| we have | nous avons |
| you have | vous avez |
| they have | ils/elles ont |
Avoir (to have) in context
Sentences that use avoir in the présent. Tap each to hear it.
I am twenty years old. (lit. I have twenty years.)
Are you hungry? (lit. Do you have hunger?)
She has a red car.
We have a cat.
You have a lot of talent.
They have two children.
Working with the présent
French uses the present tense more broadly than English does. "Je parle français" can mean "I speak French," "I am speaking French," or "I do speak French" — context decides. Note that "on" (technically third-person singular: "on parle") is the everyday spoken equivalent of "nous" — French speakers use it constantly in conversation. "Nous parlons" feels more formal or written; "on parle" is what you actually hear in everyday speech.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate avoir in the present tense?
Why does French say 'j'ai vingt ans' instead of 'je suis vingt ans'?
What's the difference between avoir and posséder?
Practice Avoir (To Have) in real conversations
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