2.7. Le verbe avoir

The Verb Avoir and Common Expressions with Avoir

2.7.1. The Main Idea

The verb avoir means to have. You already saw it when talking about age.

J’ai vingt ans.	I am twenty years old.
Tu as quel âge ?	How old are you?

In French, avoir is also used in many common expressions where English often uses to be.

2.7.2. The Verb Avoir

j’ai	I have
tu as	you have, informal
il a	he has
elle a	she has
nous avons	we have
vous avez	you have, formal or plural
ils ont	they have, masculine or mixed
elles ont	they have, feminine

2.7.3. Main Pattern

Subject + avoir + noun/expression	English meaning
J’ai un livre.	I have a book.
Tu as un stylo.	You have a pen.
Il a un cahier.	He has a notebook.
Elle a une gomme.	She has an eraser.
Nous avons un cours.	We have a class.
Vous avez une question.	You have a question.
Ils ont des livres.	They have books.
Elles ont des chaises.	They have chairs.

2.7.4. Avoir for Age

French uses avoir to talk about age.

J’ai vingt ans.	I am twenty years old.
Tu as vingt et un ans.	You are twenty-one years old.
Il a dix-huit ans.	He is eighteen years old.
Elle a dix-neuf ans.	She is nineteen years old.
Nous avons trente ans.	We are thirty years old.
Vous avez quel âge ?	How old are you?

2.7.5. Common Expressions with Avoir

avoir faim	to be hungry
avoir soif	to be thirsty
avoir chaud	to be hot
avoir froid	to be cold
avoir raison	to be right
avoir tort	to be wrong
avoir peur	to be afraid
avoir besoin de	to need
avoir envie de	to want / to feel like
avoir de la chance	to be lucky

2.7.6. Examples with Common Expressions

J’ai faim.	I am hungry.
Tu as soif.	You are thirsty.
Il a chaud.	He is hot.
Elle a froid.	She is cold.
Nous avons raison.	We are right.
Vous avez tort.	You are wrong.
Ils ont peur.	They are afraid.
Elles ont de la chance.	They are lucky.

2.7.7. Avoir Besoin De

Avoir besoin de means to need.

J’ai besoin d’un stylo.	I need a pen.
Tu as besoin d’un livre.	You need a book.
Elle a besoin d’une chaise.	She needs a chair.
Nous avons besoin d’un cours.	We need a class.
Vous avez besoin d’aide.	You need help.

Before a vowel sound, de becomes d’.

de + aide	d’aide
de + un	d’un

2.7.8. Avoir Envie De

Avoir envie de means to want or to feel like.

J’ai envie d’un café.	I want a coffee.
Tu as envie d’une pause.	You want a break.
Il a envie de dormir.	He feels like sleeping.
Elle a envie d’étudier.	She feels like studying.
Nous avons envie de parler français.	We feel like speaking French.

2.7.9. Important Warning

Do not translate these expressions word-for-word into French with être.

Je suis faim.	Don’t say this. French does not use être for hunger.
J’ai faim.	Say this. I am hungry.
Je suis froid.	Don’t say this. French does not use être for feeling cold.
J’ai froid.	Say this. I am cold.
Je suis vingt ans.	Don’t say this. French does not use être for age.
J’ai vingt ans.	Say this. I am twenty years old.

2.7.10. Questions with Avoir

Tu as faim ?	Are you hungry?
Tu as soif ?	Are you thirsty?
Tu as froid ?	Are you cold?
Tu as chaud ?	Are you hot?
Tu as besoin d’aide ?	Do you need help?
Vous avez une question ?	Do you have a question?

2.7.11. Short Answers

Oui, j’ai faim.	Yes, I am hungry.
Non, je n’ai pas faim.	No, I am not hungry.
Oui, j’ai soif.	Yes, I am thirsty.
Non, je n’ai pas soif.	No, I am not thirsty.
Oui, j’ai besoin d’aide.	Yes, I need help.
Non, je n’ai pas besoin d’aide.	No, I do not need help.

2.7.12. Core Patterns

J’ai ___ .	I have ___ . / I am ___ .
Tu as ___ ?	Do you have ___ ? / Are you ___ ?
Il a ___ .	He has ___ . / He is ___ .
Elle a ___ .	She has ___ . / She is ___ .
Nous avons ___ .	We have ___ . / We are ___ .
Vous avez ___ ?	Do you have ___ ? / Are you ___ ?
Ils ont ___ .	They have ___ . / They are ___ .
Elles ont ___ .	They have ___ . / They are ___ .

2.7.13. Practice

I have a book. |

You have a pen. informal |

He has a notebook. |

She has an eraser. |

I am hungry. |

I am thirsty. |

I am cold. |

I am twenty years old. |

Do you need help? informal |

I need a pen. |

2.7.14. Answers

I have a book.	J’ai un livre.
You have a pen. informal	Tu as un stylo.
He has a notebook.	Il a un cahier.
She has an eraser.	Elle a une gomme.
I am hungry.	J’ai faim.
I am thirsty.	J’ai soif.
I am cold.	J’ai froid.
I am twenty years old.	J’ai vingt ans.
Do you need help? informal	Tu as besoin d’aide ?
I need a pen.	J’ai besoin d’un stylo.

2.7.15. Short Dialogue

A : Tu as faim ?	A: Are you hungry?
B : Oui, j’ai faim. Et toi ?	B: Yes, I am hungry. And you?
A : Moi aussi. Tu as besoin d’un café ?	A: Me too. Do you need a coffee?
B : Oui, j’ai envie d’un café.	B: Yes, I want a coffee.

2.7.16. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to conjugate avoir, use it to say what someone has, and recognize common French expressions such as avoir faim, avoir soif, avoir froid, avoir chaud, avoir besoin de, and avoir envie de.