French · Everyday Verbs
"to believe" in French: croire
croire
To believe in French is croire. Everyday talk leans on je crois and tu crois. Use croire que before a clause and croire en for belief in someone or something.
Giving an opinion
Je crois que le train part à neuf heures.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce croire
Say it
krwahr
/kʁwaʁ/
Krwahr—oi like wa, French r at the end. Je crois is zhuh krwah.
"to believe" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| croire | to believe Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| je crois | I believe / I think Very common opinion opener. | Very common opinion opener. |
| croire que | to believe that Before a clause. | Before a clause. |
| croire en | to believe in Faith or trust in someone/something. | Faith or trust in someone/something. |
How to use croire in real life
- 1Giving an opinion
Je crois que le train part à neuf heures.
I believe the train leaves at nine.
Je crois que + clause.
- 2Checking with a friend
Tu crois vraiment qu'il va venir ?
Do you really believe he'll come?
Tu crois for you believe.
- 3Encouragement
On croit en toi pour ce match.
We believe in you for this match.
Croire en + person.
Mistakes English speakers make with croire
Incorrect: Je croire que…
Correct: Je crois que…
Conjugate: je crois, not je croire.
Incorrect: Je crois à toi.
Correct: Je crois en toi.
Belief in a person uses croire en.
Good to know
Je crois que often softens an opinion the way English I think does. Croire en quelqu'un sounds supportive and personal.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Debating whether a package will arrive
ChatPal
Tu crois que le colis arrive demain ?
Do you believe the package arrives tomorrow?
You
Je crois que oui, le suivi le dit.
I believe so—the tracking says so.
ChatPal
Moi je crois qu'ils ont du retard.
I believe they're delayed.
You
On verra bien ce soir.
We'll see tonight.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to believe" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to believe" in French
How do you say to believe?
Croire.
How do I say I think/I believe?
Je crois que…
What is croire en?
To believe in someone or something.
How do you conjugate je?
Je crois.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
