Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Verbs ending in -yer

Verbs ending in -yer, like envoyer (to send) and payer (to pay), have a spelling change in the present tense. For all pronouns except nous and vous, the y changes to an i.

PronounForm
jej'envoie
tutu envoies
il / elle / onil envoie
nousnous envoyons
vousvous envoyez
ils / ellesils envoient
The boss is sending an invoice for this account.
Le chef envoie une facture pour ce compte.
Are you sending the file to my accountant?
Vous envoyez le fichier à mon comptable ?
We are not sending any checks here.
Nous n'envoyons pas de chèques ici.

The verb payer

The verb payer (to pay) follows the exact same pattern. (Note: For verbs ending specifically in -ayer, it is also acceptable to keep the y in all forms, but changing it to i is very common and what we use here.)

PronounForm
jeje paie
tutu paies
il / elle / onil paie
nousnous payons
vousvous payez
ils / ellesils paient
I pay the invoice and I take the receipt.
Je paie la facture et je prends le reçu.
We pay the new accountant.
Nous payons le nouveau comptable.
They are paying all the expenses with this check.
Ils paient toutes les dépenses avec ce chèque.

Other -yer verbs

Other verbs ending in -yer, like employer (to employ) and nettoyer (to clean), use this identical stem-changing pattern.

The company employs a new accountant.
L'entreprise emploie un nouveau comptable.
They are cleaning the accountant's office.
Ils nettoient le bureau du comptable.

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