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

Introduction to the verb appeler

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The English translation of the French verb “appeler” is “to call” or “to name.” The infinitive form of “appeler” is pronounced as [a.pə.le].

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The word “appeler” comes from the Latin word “appellare,” meaning “to call” or “to name.” In everyday French, “appeler” is commonly used to refer to the action of calling someone or something by their name, as well as to name or designate something.

Examples:

Je vais appeler ma mère ce soir. (I’m going to call my mother tonight.)
Comment est-ce que tu appelles ton chien ? (What do you call your dog?)
On l’appelle le roi de la cuisine. (We call him the king of the kitchen.)

Appeler – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

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

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of appeler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’appelle	J’appelle mon ami	I call my friend
Tu	tu appelles	Tu appelles ta sœur	You call your sister
Il	il appelle	Il appelle son père	He calls his father
Elle	elle appelle	Elle appelle sa mère	She calls her mother
On	on appelle	On appelle le médecin	We call the doctor
Nous	nous appelons	Nous appelons nos amis	We call our friends
Vous	vous appelez	Vous appelez votre professeur	You call your teacher
Ils	ils appellent	Ils appellent leur voisin	They call their neighbor (masculine)
Elles	elles appellent	Elles appellent leur voisine	They call their neighbor (feminine)