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

Introduction to the verb foirer

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The English translation of the French verb “foirer” is “to mess up” or “to fail.” The infinitive form “foirer” is pronounced as “fwah-ray.”

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The word “foirer” originated from the colloquial French word “foire,” which means “fair” or “market.” In everyday French, “foirer” is commonly used to describe a situation or action that goes wrong, fails, or does not meet expectations.

Examples:

J’ai complètement foiré mon examen. (I completely messed up my exam.)
Ne lui confie pas cette tâche, il va encore tout foirer. (Don’t assign him this task, he’s going to mess up everything again.)
Ils ont foiré leur rendez-vous à cause des embouteillages. (They failed their appointment because of the traffic.)

Note: The verb “foirer” is colloquial and may not be suitable for formal or professional settings.

Foirer – 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 foirer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	foire	Je foire souvent mes devoirs.	I mess up my homework often.
Tu	foires	Tu foires toujours tes clés.	You always mess up your keys.
Il	foire	Il foire son entretien.	He messes up his interview.
Elle	foire	Elle foire sa recette.	She messes up her recipe.
On	foire	On foire notre plan.	We mess up our plan.
Nous	foirons	Nous foirons notre examen.	We will mess up our exam.
Vous	foirez	Vous foirez votre présentation.	You mess up your presentation.
Ils	foirent	Ils foirent leur projet.	They mess up their project.
Elles	foirent	Elles foirent leur rendez-vous.	They mess up their appointment.