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

Introduction to the verb mépriser

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The English translation of the French verb mépriser is “to despise.” It is pronounced “may-pree-zay.”

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Mépriser comes from the Old French word “mespris,” meaning “contempt” or “scorn.” It is most often used in everyday French to express a strong feeling of dislike or disrespect towards someone or something.

Examples:

Je méprise les personnes qui ne respectent pas l’environnement. (I despise people who do not respect the environment.)
Mon patron méprise mes idées et ne prend jamais en compte mes suggestions. (My boss despises my ideas and never takes my suggestions into consideration.)
Elle a toujours méprisé les règles et les conventions sociales. (She has always disregarded rules and social conventions.)

Mépriser – 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 mépriser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	méprise	Je méprise les gens qui jugent sans connaître.	I despise people who judge without knowing.
Tu	méprises	Tu méprises souvent les opinions des autres.	You often scorn other people’s opinions.
Il/Elle	méprise	Il méprise les règles et fait toujours ce qu’il veut.	He disdains rules and always does what he wants.
On	méprise	On méprise facilement les personnes qui sont différentes de nous.	One easily looks down on people who are different from us.
Nous	méprisons	Nous méprisons la violence et prônons la paix.	We despise violence and advocate for peace.
Vous	méprisez	Vous méprisez les traditions, mais elles font partie de notre histoire.	You despise traditions, but they are part of our history.
Ils/Elles	méprisent	Ils méprisent ceux qui ne partagent pas leurs opinions.	They despise those who do not share their opinions.