laver/la.ve/
verb · A1 · Frequency 1315
verb
Meanings
to wash (something)
Transitive verb, meaning to clean something. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
to wash oneself, to take a bath or shower
Intransitive verb, often used reflexively as se laver, meaning to wash oneself.
Examples
Il faut laver les légumes avant de les cuisiner.
You have to wash the vegetables before cooking them.
Pour économiser l'eau, nous allons laver la voiture avec un seau.
To save water, we are going to wash the car with a bucket.
Elle préfère laver les vêtements délicats à la main.
She prefers to wash delicate clothes by hand.
Collocations
- laver les mainsto wash the hands
- laver les vêtementsto wash clothes
- se laver le visageto wash one's face
Common mistakes
Je lave me les mains chaque matin.
Je me lave les mains chaque matin.
When laver means washing one's own body part, the reflexive pronoun me must come before the conjugated verb laver.
Related words
synonymnettoyerto clean, to wipe clean
antonymsalirto dirty, make dirty
Grammar note
When laver is used transitively, compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir; when used pronominally, compound tenses use the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to wash (something)
Transitive verb, meaning to clean something. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
to wash oneself, to take a bath or shower
Intransitive verb, often used reflexively as se laver, meaning to wash oneself.
Examples
En lavant les assiettes, Paul écoutait la radio.
While washing the dishes, Paul was listening to the radio.
Lavant les pinceaux après le cours, l'artiste gardait son atelier propre.
Washing the brushes after the class, the artist kept the studio clean.
En lavant la voiture, ma sœur a trouvé une rayure sur la portière.
While washing the car, my sister found a scratch on the door.
Grammar note
When laver is used transitively, compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir; when used pronominally, compound tenses use the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to wash (something)
Transitive verb, meaning to clean something. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
to wash oneself, to take a bath or shower
Intransitive verb, often used reflexively as se laver, meaning to wash oneself.
Examples
J'ai lavé les assiettes après le dîner.
I washed the plates after dinner.
La pluie a lavé les vitres de la terrasse.
The rain washed the terrace windows.
Après le sport, je me suis lavé rapidement.
After exercising, I washed myself quickly.
Grammar note
When laver is used transitively, compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir; when used pronominally, compound tenses use the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to wash (something)
Transitive verb, meaning to clean something. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
to wash oneself, to take a bath or shower
Intransitive verb, often used reflexively as se laver, meaning to wash oneself.
Examples
Chaque soir, je lave les assiettes après le dîner.
Every evening, I wash the plates after dinner.
Elle lave les légumes avant de les cuisiner.
She washes the vegetables before cooking them.
Le produit lave efficacement les taches de graisse.
The product effectively washes away grease stains.
Grammar note
When laver is used transitively, compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir; when used pronominally, compound tenses use the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to wash (something)
Transitive verb, meaning to clean something. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
to wash oneself, to take a bath or shower
Intransitive verb, often used reflexively as se laver, meaning to wash oneself.
Examples
Tu laves les legumes avant de preparer la salade.
You wash the vegetables before preparing the salad.
Pourquoi tu laves cette tasse a la main ?
Why are you washing this cup by hand?
Tu laves la voiture avec ton frere ce week-end.
You are washing the car with your brother this weekend.
Grammar note
When laver is used transitively, compound tenses use the auxiliary avoir; when used pronominally, compound tenses use the auxiliary être.