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

Introduction to the verb huir

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The English translation of the French verb huir is “to flee” or “to run away.” It is pronounced as “hweer” in the infinitive form.

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The origin of huir can be traced back to the Latin word “fugere,” meaning “to flee.” In everyday French, huir is often used in the context of escaping from a dangerous or undesirable situation.

Examples:

Les passants ont commencé à huir lorsque les flammes ont atteint l’immeuble. (The bystanders started to flee when the flames reached the building.)
Il a hui devant la police, mais a été rapidement rattrapé. (He ran away from the police, but was quickly caught.)
Nous avons dû huir rapidement avant que la tempête n’atteigne notre village. (We had to flee quickly before the storm reached our village.)

Huir – 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 huir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je fuis	Je fuis rapidement.	I am fleeing quickly.
tu	tu fuis	Tu fuis sans regarder en arrière.	You are fleeing without looking back.
il	il fuit	Il fuit la police.	He is running away from the police.
elle	elle fuit	Elle fuit ses problèmes.	She is escaping her problems.
on	on fuit	On fuit vers la liberté.	We are fleeing towards freedom.
nous	nous fuyons	Nous fuyons ensemble.	We are fleeing together.
vous	vous fuyez	Vous fuyez vers l’inconnu.	You are fleeing towards the unknown.
ils	ils fuient	Ils fuient la réalité.	They are running away from reality.
elles	elles fuient	Elles fuient leurs responsabilités.	They are avoiding their responsibilities.