avoir/a.vwaʁ/
verb / noun · A1 · Frequency 12
verb
Meanings
to have; to possess (something, someone or a characteristic)
Covers general meanings of having, possessing or bearing: avoir un livre, avoir faim, avoir de la patience.
to experience or suffer from a situation, illness, emotion, etc.
Often used for illnesses or events: avoir un accident, avoir la grippe, avoir peur.
to express age
Used in the structure “avoir + number + ans”: J’ai vingt ans.
auxiliary verb
Used as the auxiliary verb for compound tenses of most verbs, combined with past participles (e.g., passé composé).
to have to, must (with an infinitive)
Used in the structure “avoir à + infinitive” to express obligation: j’ai à finir ce travail.
to be cheated; to get conned (often in se faire avoir)
Common colloquial expression: se faire avoir means “to be had, to get ripped off or tricked.”
Examples
Avoir un espace de travail calme améliore ma concentration.
Having a quiet workspace improves my concentration.
Avoir mal au dos après une longue journée est assez courant.
Having back pain after a long day is quite common.
Avoir trente ans ne signifie pas qu'il faut renoncer à ses rêves.
Being thirty does not mean that one must give up one's dreams.
Après avoir fermé la porte, elle a éteint la lumière.
After closing the door, she turned off the light.
Collocations
- avoir un livreto have a book
- avoir la grippeto have the flu
- avoir vingt ansto be twenty years old
Common mistakes
Tu a un livre.
Tu as un livre.
In the present indicative, avoir takes the form as with tu, whereas a is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymposséderto own or have something, indicating possession of an object, property, or right.
Grammar note
Avoir is used as the auxiliary verb to form compound tenses; avoir + infinitive expresses obligation (must).
nounmasculine
Meanings
asset, possession
Refers to property or assets owned by an individual or organization.
ownership, possession
When used as a noun, denotes the state or act of possessing something.
Examples
Un avoir bancaire peut servir à régler une prochaine facture.
A bank credit balance can be used to pay a future bill.
Le client a reçu un avoir après le retour du produit.
The customer received a credit note after returning the product.
Cet avoir sera déduit du montant de la prochaine commande.
This credit will be deducted from the amount of the next order.
Collocations
- l’avoir et l’êtrehaving and being
Common mistakes
avoir comme verbe
avoir comme nom
When 'avoir' is used as a noun, it should not be confused with the verb form.
Related words
synonympatrimoineheritage, patrimony, estate, capital, holdings
verb
Meanings
to have; to possess (something, someone or a characteristic)
Covers general meanings of having, possessing or bearing: avoir un livre, avoir faim, avoir de la patience.
to experience or suffer from a situation, illness, emotion, etc.
Often used for illnesses or events: avoir un accident, avoir la grippe, avoir peur.
to express age
Used in the structure “avoir + number + ans”: J’ai vingt ans.
auxiliary verb
Used as the auxiliary verb for compound tenses of most verbs, combined with past participles (e.g., passé composé).
to have to, must (with an infinitive)
Used in the structure “avoir à + infinitive” to express obligation: j’ai à finir ce travail.
to be cheated; to get conned (often in se faire avoir)
Common colloquial expression: se faire avoir means “to be had, to get ripped off or tricked.”
Examples
Ayant deux enfants à charge, elle recherche un emploi stable.
Having two children to support, she is looking for a stable job.
Ayant une forte fièvre, le patient doit rester au repos.
Having a high fever, the patient must rest.
Ayant vingt ans, il peut désormais voter.
Being twenty years old, he can now vote.
Ayant terminé son rapport, elle l'a envoyé à son directeur.
Having finished her report, she sent it to her manager.
Grammar note
Avoir is used as the auxiliary verb to form compound tenses; avoir + infinitive expresses obligation (must).
verb
Meanings
to have; to possess (something, someone or a characteristic)
Covers general meanings of having, possessing or bearing: avoir un livre, avoir faim, avoir de la patience.
to experience or suffer from a situation, illness, emotion, etc.
Often used for illnesses or events: avoir un accident, avoir la grippe, avoir peur.
to express age
Used in the structure “avoir + number + ans”: J’ai vingt ans.
auxiliary verb
Used as the auxiliary verb for compound tenses of most verbs, combined with past participles (e.g., passé composé).
to have to, must (with an infinitive)
Used in the structure “avoir à + infinitive” to express obligation: j’ai à finir ce travail.
to be cheated; to get conned (often in se faire avoir)
Common colloquial expression: se faire avoir means “to be had, to get ripped off or tricked.”
Examples
J'ai eu une idée pendant la réunion.
I had an idea during the meeting.
Ils ont eu assez de temps pour finir le projet.
They had enough time to finish the project.
Elle a eu de la fièvre toute la nuit.
She had a fever all night.
Nous avons eu très peur en entendant cette alarme.
We were very frightened when we heard that alarm.
Collocations
- avoir un livreto have a book
- avoir la grippeto have the flu
- avoir vingt ansto be twenty years old
Common mistakes
Tu a un livre.
Tu as un livre.
In the present indicative, avoir takes the form as with tu, whereas a is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymposséderto own or have something, indicating possession of an object, property, or right.
Grammar note
Avoir is used as the auxiliary verb to form compound tenses; avoir + infinitive expresses obligation (must).
verb
Meanings
to have; to possess (something, someone or a characteristic)
Covers general meanings of having, possessing or bearing: avoir un livre, avoir faim, avoir de la patience.
to experience or suffer from a situation, illness, emotion, etc.
Often used for illnesses or events: avoir un accident, avoir la grippe, avoir peur.
to express age
Used in the structure “avoir + number + ans”: J’ai vingt ans.
auxiliary verb
Used as the auxiliary verb for compound tenses of most verbs, combined with past participles (e.g., passé composé).
to have to, must (with an infinitive)
Used in the structure “avoir à + infinitive” to express obligation: j’ai à finir ce travail.
to be cheated; to get conned (often in se faire avoir)
Common colloquial expression: se faire avoir means “to be had, to get ripped off or tricked.”
Examples
J'ai deux billets pour le concert de ce soir.
I have two tickets for tonight's concert.
J'ai souvent mal à la tête après une longue journée.
I often have a headache after a long day.
J'ai vingt-cinq ans depuis le mois dernier.
I have been twenty-five since last month.
J'ai terminé le rapport avant midi.
I finished the report before noon.
Collocations
- avoir un livreto have a book
- avoir la grippeto have the flu
- avoir vingt ansto be twenty years old
Common mistakes
Tu a un livre.
Tu as un livre.
In the present indicative, avoir takes the form as with tu, whereas a is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymposséderto own or have something, indicating possession of an object, property, or right.
Grammar note
Avoir is used as the auxiliary verb to form compound tenses; avoir + infinitive expresses obligation (must).