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

Introduction to the verb repaître

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The English translation of the French verb repaître is “to feed” or “to nourish”. It is pronounced as “re-pet-ruh” in its infinitive form.

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The word repaître is derived from the Latin word “repascere”, meaning “to feed again”. In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the act of providing food to someone or something.

Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Je vais repaître les animaux de la ferme. (I am going to feed the farm animals.)
Nous avons repu les invités avec un délicieux repas. (We fed the guests with a delicious meal.)
Le mère repaît son bébé toutes les deux heures. (The mother feeds her baby every two hours.)

Repaître – 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 repaître

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	me repais	Je me repais de mon repas.	I am feeding myself with my meal.
tu	te repais	Tu te repais de la nourriture.	You are feeding yourself with food.
il	se repaît	Il se repaît de son dessert.	He is indulging in his dessert.
elle	se repaît	Elle se repaît d’un bon repas.	She is enjoying a good meal.
on	se repaît	On se repaît de la cuisine française.	We are feasting on French cuisine.
nous	nous repaîssons	Nous nous repaîssons de la vue.	We are delighting in the view.
vous	vous repaissez	Vous vous repaissez du buffet.	You are feasting on the buffet.
ils	se repaissent	Ils se repaissent de viande.	They are filling themselves up with meat.
elles	se repaissent	Elles se repaissent de légumes.	They are nourishing themselves with vegetables.