French · Everyday Verbs
"to find" in French: trouver
trouver
To find in French is trouver: je trouve mes clés, tu as trouvé ton billet ? Je trouve que… also means I think that…
Lost keys
Enfin, je trouve mon trousseau sous la table.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce trouver
Say it
troo-VAY
/tʁu.ve/
Trouver: troo-VAY. The ou is like food; stress on the last syllable.
"to find" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| trouver | to find Objects, places, solutions. | Objects, places, solutions. |
| je trouve | I find / I think Discovery or opinion. | Discovery or opinion. |
| tu as trouvé ? | did you find it? Checking success. | Checking success. |
| se trouver | to be located Where something is. | Where something is. |
How to use trouver in real life
- 1Lost keys
Enfin, je trouve mon trousseau sous la table.
At last, I find my keyring under the table.
Je trouve = I find.
- 2At the market
Tu trouves des fraises mûres ici ?
Do you find ripe strawberries here?
Tu trouves for searching success.
- 3Sharing an opinion
Je trouve ce film un peu long.
I find this film a bit long.
Trouver que / trouver + adj for opinions.
Mistakes English speakers make with trouver
Incorrect: Je trou mon chemin.
Correct: Je trouve mon chemin.
Keep the v: trouve, not trou (which is a hole).
Incorrect: J'ai findé mes lunettes.
Correct: J'ai trouvé mes lunettes.
Past participle is trouvé.
Good to know
Je trouve que is everyday for opinions, as common as je pense que. Se trouver marks location: le musée se trouve près de la gare.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Looking for a café
ChatPal
Tu trouves un café ouvert dans la rue ?
Do you find an open café on the street?
You
Pas encore, je cherche un peu plus loin.
Not yet — I'm looking a bit farther.
ChatPal
Attends, j'en trouve un juste là.
Wait — I find one right there.
You
Parfait, on y va.
Perfect, let's go.
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 find" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to find" in French
How do you say to find in French?
Trouver.
How do you say I found it?
Je l'ai trouvé / trouvée (agree if the object is before avoir).
Can trouver mean think?
Yes: je trouve que… = I think that…
How do you pronounce trouver?
troo-VAY.
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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