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

Introduction to the verb oindre

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The English translation of the French verb oindre is “to anoint.” It is pronounced as “wan-druh” as the infinitive form.

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Oindre comes from the Latin word “ungere” meaning “to anoint,” and is often used in religious contexts in French. It is most commonly used to refer to the act of applying holy oil or ointment as a symbol of divine blessing or consecration.

Examples:

Le prêtre a oint le front du bébé avec de l’huile sainte lors de son baptême. (The priest anointed the baby’s forehead with holy oil during his baptism.)
Les rois de France étaient traditionnellement oints avec de l’huile sacrée lors de leur sacre. (The French kings were traditionally anointed with sacred oil during their coronation.)
Ma grand-mère m’a appris à oindre mes mains avec de l’huile avant de faire du pain pour qu’il soit béni. (My grandmother taught me to anoint my hands with oil before making bread so it would be blessed.)

Oindre – 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 oindre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’oinds	Je oinds mon front avec de l’huile	I anoint my forehead with oil
tu	tu oinds	Tu oinds ta peau avec de la lotion	You anoint your skin with lotion
il	il oint	Il oint ses blessures avec de la pommade	He anoints his wounds with ointment
elle	elle oint	Elle oint ses cheveux avec de l’huile d’argan	She anoints her hair with argan oil
on	on oint	On oint la table en bois avec de la cire	We/They anoint the wooden table with wax
nous	nous oignons	Nous oignons nos mains avec du beurre	We anoint our hands with butter
vous	vous oignez	Vous oignez vos lèvres avec du baume à lèvres	You anoint your lips with lip balm
ils	ils oignent	Ils oignent la statue avec de l’encens	They anoint the statue with incense
elles	elles oignent	Elles oignent leur corps avec de l’huile de coco	They anoint their bodies with coconut oil