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

Introduction to the verb rechigner

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The English translation of the French verb rechigner is “to grumble” or “to complain.” The infinitive form of the verb is pronounced as “ruh-sheen-YAY.”

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The word rechigner comes from the Old French word “rechignier,” which is derived from the Latin word “rictus” meaning “grin,” and it is most often used in everyday French to describe someone who is complaining or grumbling in a disagreeable or annoyed manner.

Here are three simple examples of its usage with their English translations:

Arrête de rechigner, c’est pour ton bien. (Stop complaining, it’s for your own good.)
Il a toujours tendance à rechigner au travail. (He always tends to grumble about work.)
Elle rechigne à l’idée de partir en vacances avec sa belle-mère. (She grumbles at the thought of going on vacation with her mother-in-law.)

Rechigner – 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 rechigner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	rechigne	Je rechigne à faire mes devoirs.	I grumble about doing my homework.
tu	rechignes	Tu rechignes à t’entraîner.	You grumble about training.
il	rechigne	Il rechigne à aider sa sœur.	He grumbles about helping his sister.
elle	rechigne	Elle rechigne à manger ses légumes.	She grumbles about eating her vegetables.
on	rechigne	On rechigne à suivre les règles.	We grumble about following the rules.
nous	rechignons	Nous rechignons à faire la vaisselle.	We grumble about doing the dishes.
vous	rechignez	Vous rechignez à payer vos impôts.	You grumble about paying your taxes.
ils	rechignent	Ils rechignent à écouter leurs parents.	They grumble about listening to their parents.
elles	rechignent	Elles rechignent à aller au travail.	They grumble about going to work.