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

Introduction to the verb médire

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The English translation of the French verb médire is “to speak ill” or “to slander.” It is pronounced “meh-deer.”

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The word médire comes from the Latin verb “mederi” which means “to heal.” In everyday French, médire is most often used to describe someone speaking negatively or spreading rumors about someone else.

Examples:

“Elle médit toujours de ses collègues derrière leur dos.” (She always speaks ill of her colleagues behind their backs.)
“Il ne faut pas médire des autres sans les connaître.” (You shouldn’t slander others without knowing them.)
“Les médias ont médit de sa réputation sans preuve.” (The media spoke ill of his reputation without proof.)

Médire – 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 médire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	médire	Je médis de mes amis.	I speak ill of my friends.
tu	médires	Tu médires constamment.	You constantly speak ill.
il	médit	Il médit de son voisin.	He speaks ill of his neighbor.
elle	médit	Elle médit de sa collègue.	She speaks ill of her colleague.
on	médit	On médit souvent des autres.	People often speak ill of others.
nous	médions	Nous médions sur nos voisins.	We speak ill of our neighbors.
vous	médisez	Vous médisez sans arrêt.	You speak ill without stopping.
ils	médisent	Ils médisent sur leur patron.	They speak ill of their boss.
elles	médisent	Elles médisent sur leur professeur.	They speak ill of their teacher.