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

Introduction to the verb flétrir

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The English translation of the French verb flétrir is “to wither” or “to wilt.” It is pronounced as “flay-tree” in its infinitive form.

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The word flétrir originated from the Latin word “flaccere,” meaning “to become limp or weak.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the process of a plant or flower losing its vitality and becoming weak or wilted. It can also be used figuratively to describe a person or thing that has lost its energy or strength.

Examples:

Les fleurs flétrissent en été à cause de la chaleur. (The flowers wilt in summer because of the heat.)
La chaleur intense a flétri les feuilles de l’arbre. (The intense heat has withered the leaves of the tree.)
Son visage s’est flétri après des années de stress et de fatigue. (His face has withered after years of stress and fatigue.)

Flétrir – 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 flétrir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je flétris	Je flétris toutes les fleurs.	I wither all the flowers.
Tu	tu flétris	Tu flétris trop vite.	You wither too quickly.
Il	il flétrit	Il flétrit les feuilles.	He withers the leaves.
Elle	elle flétrit	Elle flétrit à cause de la chaleur.	She withers because of the heat.
On	on flétrit	On flétrit facilement en cas de stress.	One withers easily under stress.
Nous	nous flétrissons	Nous flétrissons ensemble.	We wither together.
Vous	vous flétrissez	Vous flétrissez rapidement.	You wither quickly.
Ils	ils flétrissent	Ils flétrissent les fruits.	They wither the fruits.
Elles	elles flétrissent	Elles flétrissent les roses.	They wither the roses.