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

Introduction to the verb réveiller

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The English translation of the French verb réveiller is “to wake up.” It is pronounced “reh-vay-yay.”

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Réveiller comes from the Old French word “reveillier” which means “to wake up.” It is derived from the Latin word “vigilia” which means “watchfulness” or “wakefulness.” In modern French, réveiller is most often used in everyday speech to describe the action of waking someone up or being woken up oneself.

Examples:

Je vais réveiller mes enfants demain matin à 7 heures. (I will wake up my children tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock.)
Il faut que tu te réveilles, sinon tu vas être en retard pour l’école. (You need to wake up, otherwise you will be late for school.)
Elle s’est réveillée avec un mal de tête ce matin. (She woke up with a headache this morning.)

Réveiller – 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 réveiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	me réveille	Je me réveille tous les jours à 7 heures.	I wake up every day at 7 am.
tu	te réveilles	Tu te réveilles trop tard.	You wake up too late.
il	se réveille	Il se réveille tôt le matin.	He wakes up early in the morning.
elle	se réveille	Elle se réveille avec le soleil.	She wakes up with the sun.
on	se réveille	On se réveille ensemble.	We wake up together.
nous	nous réveillons	Nous nous réveillons en retard.	We wake up late.
vous	vous réveillez	Vous vous réveillez souvent avant moi.	You often wake up before me.
ils	se réveillent	Ils se réveillent en même temps chaque jour.	They wake up at the same time every day.
elles	se réveillent	Elles se réveillent de bonne humeur.	They wake up in a good mood.