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

Introduction to the verb transcrire

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The English translation of the French verb transcrire is “to transcribe.” It is pronounced as “trahn-skreer” in its infinitive form.

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Transcrire comes from the Latin word “transcribere,” which means “to copy.” It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the act of writing down or copying something from one source to another.

Three simple examples of transcrire in everyday French are:

Je dois transcrire ces notes manuscrites dans mon ordinateur. (I have to transcribe these handwritten notes onto my computer.)
L’étudiante a du mal à transcrire l’enregistrement audio en texte. (The student is struggling to transcribe the audio recording into text.)
Le secrétaire transcrit les procès-verbaux de la réunion. (The secretary transcribes the minutes of the meeting.)

Translation:

I have to transcribe these handwritten notes onto my computer.
The student is struggling to transcribe the audio recording into text.
The secretary transcribes the minutes of the meeting.

Transcrire – 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 transcrire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	transcris	Je transcris mes notes en français.	I transcribe my notes in French.
tu	transcris	Tu transcris le document en anglais.	You transcribe the document in English.
il	transcrit	Il transcrit l’interview en français.	He transcribes the interview in French.
elle	transcrit	Elle transcrit les paroles en français.	She transcribes the lyrics in French.
on	transcrit	On transcrit les mots en phonétique.	We transcribe the words in phonetics.
nous	transcrivons	Nous transcrivons l’entretien en anglais.	We transcribe the interview in English.
vous	transcrivez	Vous transcrivez les notes en espagnol.	You transcribe the notes in Spanish.
ils	transcrivent	Ils transcrivent les enregistrements en français.	They transcribe the recordings in French.
elles	transcrivent	Elles transcrivent les conversations en anglais.	They transcribe the conversations in English.