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

Introduction to the verb surnommer

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The English translation of the French verb surnommer is “to nickname.” The infinitive form, surnommer, is pronounced “soor-nohm-may.”

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Surnommer comes from the French word “surnom,” which means “nickname,” and the verb suffix “-er,” which is commonly used to form verbs in French. In everyday French, surnommer is used to indicate the act of giving someone or something a nickname.

Examples:

Je vais te surnommer “Loulou.” – I’m going to give you the nickname “Loulou.”
Les supporters ont surnommé l’équipe “Les Bleus.” – The fans nicknamed the team “The Blues.”
Mes amis m’ont surnommé “Le Rigolo” à cause de mon sens de l’humour. – My friends nicknamed me “The Funny One” because of my sense of humor.

Surnommer – 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 surnommer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	surnomme	Je surnomme mon chat.	I give my cat a nickname.
tu	surnommes	Tu surnommes ta soeur.	You give your sister a nickname.
il	surnomme	Il surnomme son meilleur ami.	He gives his best friend a nickname.
elle	surnomme	Elle surnomme sa collègue.	She gives her colleague a nickname.
on	surnomme	On surnomme notre équipe “Les Gagnants”.	We give our team the nickname “The Winners”.
nous	surnommons	Nous surnommons nos enfants.	We give our children nicknames.
vous	surnommez	Vous surnommez vos parents.	You give your parents nicknames.
ils	surnomment	Ils surnomment leur chien.	They give their dog a nickname.
elles	surnomment	Elles surnomment leurs amis.	They give their friends nicknames.