French · Everyday Verbs
"to do / to make" in French: faire
faire
To do in French is faire. Present forms include je fais, tu fais, il/elle fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font. Faire also builds set phrases like faire les courses and faire attention.
Checking on a roommate
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce weekend ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce faire
Say it
fehr
/fɛʁ/
Faire is roughly fehr. Fais and fait sound like fay. Faisons is fuh-ZOHN. Font is near fohn with a nasal vowel.
"to do / to make" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| faire | to do / to make Infinitive; also in set phrases. | Infinitive; also in set phrases. |
| je fais / tu fais / il fait | I do / you do / he-she does Everyday present singular. | Everyday present singular. |
| nous faisons / vous faites / ils font | we do / you do / they do Watch faites and font; both irregular. | Watch faites and font; both irregular. |
| qu'est-ce que tu fais ? | what are you doing? Casual check-in. | Casual check-in. |
| faire les courses | to do the grocery shopping One of many faire + noun routines. | One of many faire + noun routines. |
How to use faire in real life
- 1Checking on a roommate
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce weekend ?
What are you doing this weekend?
Tu fais is the everyday conjugation.
- 2Kitchen help
Je fais une omelette, tu veux en manger ?
I'm making an omelette, want some?
Faire covers both do and make.
- 3Group project
Nous faisons la présentation demain matin.
We're doing the presentation tomorrow morning.
Faisons keeps the -s- sound from the infinitive stem area.
Mistakes English speakers make with faire
Incorrect: Je faire du sport.
Correct: Je fais du sport.
Conjugate: je fais, not je faire.
Incorrect: Vous faisez une pause ?
Correct: Vous faites une pause ?
The vous form is faites, not faisez.
Good to know
Faire is a workhorse: faire beau (nice weather), faire la grasse matinée (sleep in), faire la queue (queue). Learners memorize chunks rather than translating do/make each time.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a Sunday together
ChatPal
Qu'est-ce qu'on fait demain ?
What are we doing tomorrow?
You
Moi, je fais le marché le matin.
I'm doing the market in the morning.
ChatPal
Super. Ensuite on fait un pique-nique ?
Great. Then shall we do a picnic?
You
Oui, si le temps le permet.
Yes, if the weather allows.
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 do / to make" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to do / to make" in French
Does faire mean do or make?
Both, depending on the phrase. Je fais un gâteau is make; qu'est-ce que tu fais is do.
What are the present forms of faire?
Je fais, tu fais, il/elle fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font.
How do I say what are you doing?
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? With vous: qu'est-ce que vous faites ?
Why is vous faites irregular?
Faire keeps several irregular present forms. Memorize faites and font with the rest of the set.
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
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