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

Introduction to the verb fraîchir

Get the present tense conjugation of fraîchir. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb fraîchir is “to freshen up” or “to cool down.” The infinitive form of fraîchir is pronounced as “freh-sheer.”

Table of Contents

Fraîchir comes from the Old French word “freis” which means “cool.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of making something or someone feel cooler or fresher.

Examples:

Je vais aller me fraîchir le visage avant de sortir. (I’m going to freshen up my face before going out.)
Laisse-moi fraîchir ta boisson, elle est trop chaude. (Let me cool down your drink, it’s too hot.)
Nous devons fraîchir nos idées et trouver une meilleure solution. (We need to freshen up our ideas and find a better solution.)

Fraîchir – 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 fraîchir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Fraîchis	Je fraîchis mon visage avec de l’eau froide.	I freshen up my face with cold water.
Tu	Fraîchis	Tu fraîchis ta boisson avec de la glace.	You freshen up your drink with ice.
Il	Fraîchit	Il fraîchit l’air en ouvrant les fenêtres.	He freshens up the air by opening the windows.
Elle	Fraîchit	Elle fraîchit sa salade avec de l’huile d’olive.	She freshens up her salad with olive oil.
On	Fraîchit	On fraîchit la pièce avec un ventilateur.	We freshen up the room with a fan.
Nous	Fraîchissons	Nous fraîchissons nos esprits avec une promenade.	We freshen up our minds with a walk.
Vous	Fraîchissez	Vous fraîchissez votre haleine avec du chewing-gum.	You freshen up your breath with gum.
Ils	Fraîchissent	Ils fraîchissent leurs boissons avec des fruits frais.	They freshen up their drinks with fresh fruits.
Elles	Fraîchissent	Elles fraîchissent leurs visages avec de l’eau de rose.	They freshen up their faces with rose water.