Skip to content
fluentbyear

FRENCH VERB

vouvoyer

to use the polite form

  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: vouvoyé
  • Present participle: vouvoyant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I use the polite form
  2. tu you use the polite form
  3. il, elle, on he/she uses the polite form
  4. nous we use the polite form
  5. vous you use the polite form
  6. ils, elles they use the polite form

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I used the polite form
  2. tu you used the polite form
  3. il, elle, on he/she used the polite form
  4. nous we used the polite form
  5. vous you used the polite form
  6. ils, elles they used the polite form

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to use the polite form
  2. tu you used to use the polite form
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to use the polite form
  4. nous we used to use the polite form
  5. vous you used to use the polite form
  6. ils, elles they used to use the polite form

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will use the polite form
  2. tu you will use the polite form
  3. il, elle, on he/she will use the polite form
  4. nous we will use the polite form
  5. vous you will use the polite form
  6. ils, elles they will use the polite form

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would use the polite form
  2. tu you would use the polite form
  3. il, elle, on he/she would use the polite form
  4. nous we would use the polite form
  5. vous you would use the polite form
  6. ils, elles they would use the polite form

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I use the polite form
  2. tu (that) you use the polite form
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she use the polite form
  4. nous (that) we use the polite form
  5. vous (that) you use the polite form
  6. ils, elles (that) they use the polite form

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu use the polite form!
  2. nous use the polite form! (let’s)
  3. vous use the polite form! (plural, or formal)

How to use vouvoyer

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Je vouvoie encore mes beaux-parents après dix ans.

    I still say vous to my in-laws after ten years.

  2. Past

    Il m'a vouvoyé toute la soirée, c'était bizarre.

    He said vous to me all evening, it was strange.

  3. Imperfect

    Dans ma famille, on vouvoyait les grands-parents.

    In my family, we said vous to the grandparents.

  4. Future

    Je vouvoierai le directeur, au moins au début.

    I'll use vous with the director, at least at first.

  5. Conditional

    Vous vouvoieriez un collègue de votre âge ?

    Would you say vous to a colleague your own age?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il préfère qu'on le vouvoie au travail.

    He prefers that we say vous to him at work.

  7. Imperative

    Vouvoie la cliente, même si elle est jeune.

    Use vous with the customer, even if she's young.

Good to know

  • Vouvoyer quelqu'un is to say vous to them; tutoyer is to say tu. On se tutoie ? offers to switch.

Where you hear vouvoyer

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

French · Beginner Level 2

  • Nous vouvoyons Nathalie. We use the polite form with Nathalie.
  • J'ai vouvoyé mon professeur. I used the polite form with my teacher.
  • Je vais vouvoyer la directrice. I'm going to use the polite form with the director.

French · Advanced Level 1

  • Nous vouvoyons Nathalie. We use the polite form with Nathalie.
  • J'ai vouvoyé mon professeur. I used the polite form with my teacher.
  • Je vais vouvoyer la directrice. I'm going to use the polite form with the director.
11
Meet a Colleague

Beginner Level 2 · Avec Nathalie, on se vouvoie.

Needs a subscription 4
An Email to the Notary

Advanced Level 1 · Maître, tout court. Et vouvoie-le trois fois par phrase.

Needs a subscription 25
A Candidate Who Is Too Familiar

Fluency Level 1 · Je l'ai vu. Lucas, on va se vouvoyer, si vous voulez bien. Dans un entretien, ça se fait pas, le tu.

Needs a subscription 22
Leo's First Job Interview

Fluency Level 3 · Première règle : tu vouvoies. Même si le patron a trente ans. · Tu vouvoies.

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -er verb.