Conjugate devoir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2022-08-10
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The verb devoir (must / have to) is irregular in Le Présent Indicatif.

Learn how to conjugate DEVOIR (must / have to) in Le Présent Indicatif in French

je dois I must
tu dois You must (one person you know well)
il/elle/on doit He/She/We/one/people must
   
nous devons We must
vous devez You must (more than 1 person or formal)
ils/elles doivent They must

Listen to those examples:

Je dois aller au travail.I have to go to work.

Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.You must do the dishes first.

Elle doit faire ses devoirs.She must do her homework.

Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.We must hurry, we're already late.

Vous devez partir maintenant?Do you have to leave now?

Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.They have to save money.

See also other modal verbs:

Conjugate pouvoir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Conjugate vouloir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

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Examples and resources

Je dois aller au travail.I have to go to work.
Elle doit faire ses devoirs.She must do her homework.
Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.We must hurry, we're already late.
Vous devez partir maintenant?Do you have to leave now?
Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.They have to save money.
Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien.A hunter who knows how to hunt must know how to hunt without his dog.
Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.You must do the dishes first.
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