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

Introduction to the verb tatouer

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The English translation of the French verb tatouer is “to tattoo.” It is pronounced “ta-too-ay.”

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The language origin of tatouer can be traced back to the Tahitian word “tatu,” which means to mark something. It is most often used in everyday French as a verb to describe the act of permanently marking the skin with ink or other pigments.

Examples:

Je me suis fait tatouer une rose sur mon bras. (I got a rose tattooed on my arm.)
Les jeunes adorent se faire tatouer de nos jours. (Young people love getting tattoos nowadays.)
Elle s’est fait tatouer le nom de son enfant sur son poignet. (She got her child’s name tattooed on her wrist.)

Tatouer – 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 tatouer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	tatoue	Je tatoue un dragon sur mon bras.	I am tattooing a dragon on my arm.
Tu	tatoues	Tu tatoues des fleurs sur ton dos.	You are tattooing flowers on your back.
Il	tatoue	Il tatoue un mot en français sur sa cheville.	He is tattooing a word in French on his ankle.
Elle	tatoue	Elle tatoue un symbole sur son poignet.	She is tattooing a symbol on her wrist.
On	tatoue	On tatoue un animal sur notre épaule.	We are tattooing an animal on our shoulder.
Nous	tatouons	Nous tatouons nos initiales sur notre doigt.	We are tattooing our initials on our finger.
Vous	tatouez	Vous tatouez une citation sur votre bras.	You are tattooing a quote on your arm.
Ils	tatouent	Ils tatouent des motifs différents sur leurs jambes.	They are tattooing different designs on their legs.
Elles	tatouent	Elles tatouent des images sur leurs dos.	They are tattooing images on their backs.