Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb couiller

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The English translation of the French verb “couiller” can vary depending on the context, but it is generally an informal and vulgar term used to describe a testicular action. It can also be used as a slang term to express frustration, annoyance, or disbelief. Due to its explicit nature, it is important to note that “couiller” is considered offensive and should be used with caution.

The infinitive form of “couiller” is pronounced as “kwee-yay.”

The word “couiller” originates from the French slang term “couille,” which means testicle. It is derived from the Latin word “culleus” meaning scrotum. In everyday French, “couiller” is primarily used in informal conversations or among friends, although it is still considered highly vulgar.

Here are three examples of the usage of “couiller” in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Quand j’étais jeune, ça me couillait de devoir aller à l’école tous les jours.
    (When I was young, I used to be annoyed about having to go to school every day.)

  2. Cet ordinateur couillait souvent, c’était vraiment énervant.
    (This computer used to malfunction often, it was really annoying.)

  3. Pendant la réunion, mon collègue couillait sans cesse, ce qui rendait la situation embarrassante.
    (During the meeting, my colleague kept making inappropriate remarks which made the situation embarrassing.)

Please note that these examples reflect the vulgarity and informality of the term “couiller” and are provided for reference purposes only. It is advisable to use more appropriate language in formal or polite settings.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of couiller

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je couillais Je couillais avec mes amis. I was hanging out with my friends.
tu couillais Tu couillais souvent. You were fooling around a lot.
il couillait Il couillait en classe. He was messing around in class.
elle couillait Elle couillait avec sa sœur. She was fooling around with her sister.
on couillait On couillait tout le temps. We were fooling around all the time.
nous couillions Nous couillions ensemble. We were fooling around together.
vous couilliez Vous couilliez dans le parc. You were fooling around in the park.
ils couillaient Ils couillaient pendant les cours. They were fooling around during class.
elles couillaient Elles couillaient avec leurs amis. They were fooling around with their friends.

Other Conjugations for Couiller.

Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller (You’re reading it right now!)

Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couiller

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Couiller – About the French Imparfait Tense

The French imparfait tense, often called the imperfect tense in English, is used to describe actions or states in the past. It’s primarily used to provide background information, set the scene, or describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past.

NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Formation of the Imparfait Tense

To form the imparfait tense in French, you typically take the present tense nous form of the verb, drop the -ons ending, and add specific endings based on the verb group (regular -er, -ir, -re verbs) or use irregular forms for certain verbs.  

For regular -er verbs:

Take the infinitive form (e.g., parler, finir, rendre) Remove the -er ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient 

For regular -ir verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., choisir, grandir, finir) Remove the -ir ending Add the imparfait endings: -issais, -issais, -issait, -issions, -issiez, -issaient 

For regular -re verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., vendre, attendre, entendre) Remove the -re ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

Common Everyday Usage Patterns

Description of Past Habits

The imparfait is often used to describe habitual actions or situations in the past. For example: “Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais au football tous les jours.” (When I was a child, I used to play football every day.) 

Background Information

It’s used to provide background information or set the stage for a main event in the past. For instance: “Il faisait beau ce jour-là.” (The weather was nice that day.) 

Mental and Emotional States

It’s employed to express emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations in the past. For example: “J’étais content quand il est arrivé.” (I was happy when he arrived.) 

Ongoing Actions

The imparfait describes actions that were in progress or happening when something else occurred in the past. For instance: “Je lisais un livre quand le téléphone a sonné.” (I was reading a book when the phone rang.)

Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense

Passé Composé vs. Imparfait

The imparfait and passé composé (a compound past tense) are often used together to express the completion of an action in the past (passé composé) and provide context or background (imparfait). For example: “Il regardait la télévision quand son ami est arrivé.” (He was watching TV when his friend arrived.) 

Conditional

The imparfait is used as the base for forming the conditional mood in French. For instance, “Je mangerais” (I would eat) is formed from “je mangeais” (I was eating). 

Si Clauses

In hypothetical or “if” clauses (si clauses), the imparfait is often used to express a condition in the past. For example: “Si j’avais de l’argent, j’achèterais une nouvelle voiture.” (If I had money, I would buy a new car.) 

Narration

In storytelling or writing, the imparfait is frequently used to set the scene and describe ongoing actions while the passé composé is used for specific events or actions that interrupted the ongoing ones.
Understanding the French imperfect tense is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, your conversations will always live in the present!

I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb couiller. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!

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