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

Introduction to the verb licencier

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The English translation of the French verb licencier is “to dismiss” or “to lay off.” It is pronounced “lee-sahn-see-ay” in its infinitive form.

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The word licencier comes from the Latin word “licentiare,” meaning “to grant leave.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the context of employment or business to refer to the act of terminating an employee or ending a contract.

Example 1: Je vais licencier des employés cette semaine. (I am going to lay off some employees this week.)
Example 2: L’entreprise a dû licencier certains de ses employés à cause de la crise économique. (The company had to dismiss some of its employees due to the economic crisis.)
Example 3: Il a été licencié après avoir commis une erreur grave. (He was fired after making a serious mistake.)

Licencier – 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 licencier

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	licencie	Je licencie mon employé.	I am firing my employee.
tu	licencies	Tu licencies ton collègue.	You are laying off your colleague.
il	licencie	Il licencie son équipe.	He is laying off his team.
elle	licencie	Elle licencie ses employés.	She is firing her employees.
on	licencie	On licencie les travailleurs.	We are laying off the workers.
nous	licencions	Nous licencions nos stagiaires.	We are firing our interns.
vous	licenciez	Vous licenciez le personnel.	You are dismissing the staff.
ils	licencient	Ils licencient leurs employés.	They are laying off their employees.
elles	licencient	Elles licencient les ouvriers.	They are firing the workers.