avoir

/a.vwaʁ/
1.
verbInf3rdPres

to have

to possess

to own

J'ai une nouvelle voiture.

I have a new car.

Synonyms:posséder, détenir
2.
verbInf3rdPres

have (used as an auxiliary to form compound tenses)

Tu as mangé tout le gâteau.

You have eaten all the cake.

4.
nounmasculineSing

credit note

store credit

Le magasin m'a fait un avoir de vingt euros.

The shop gave me a twenty-euro credit note.

Synonyms:crédit
3.
verbInf3rdPres

to trick

to fool

to get (someone)

Ah mince, je me suis fait avoir !

Oh damn, I got tricked!

Synonyms:tromper, arnaquer, piéger

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Avoir is a fundamental French verb meaning "to have."

USAGE

It expresses possession ("J'ai un livre" - I have a book), age ("Elle a 30 ans" - She is 30 years old), and is used in many common expressions ("avoir faim" - to be hungry, "avoir froid" - to be cold). It also functions as an auxiliary verb, forming compound tenses like the *passé composé* ("J'ai mangé" - I ate).

CONJUGATION - 3rd Group

J'ai

Tu as

Il/elle/on a

Nous avons

Vous avez

Ils/elles ont

Mastering its irregular forms and understanding its role as an auxiliary verb is crucial.

avoir - French Definition & Examples