The Verb "faire" (To do / To make)
The verb faire is one of the most common and versatile verbs in French, meaning "to do," "to make," or even "to play." It is highly irregular in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|
| je | fais |
| tu | fais |
| il / elle / on | fait |
| nous | faisons |
| vous | faites |
| ils / elles | font |
Notice that vous faites does not end in -ez, and ils/elles font ends in -ont.
Use faire for many everyday activities, including household chores like le ménage (housework):
Daily Chores and Errands
Faire pairs with specific nouns for other common chores, like la vaisselle (the dishes) and la lessive (the laundry):
To talk about running errands or grocery shopping, use les courses (or des courses for general errands):
Work, Sports, and Naps
Faire is also used for schoolwork, hobbies, and resting. Use un devoir for a homework assignment:
For playing sports or exercising, use faire du sport:
In French, you don't take a nap, you "do" a nap (faire une sieste):
Making Things
Because faire also means "to make," use it for creating things like un gâteau (a cake) or making noise (le bruit). It's also the verb used for gardening (faire le jardin):
