Conjugate devoir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-08-10

The verb devoir (must / have to) is irregular in Le Présent (Indicatif).

Learn how to conjugate DEVOIR (must / have to) in Le Présent (Indicatif) in French

je dois	I must
tu dois	You must (one person you know well)
il/elle/on doit	He/She/We/one/people must

nous devons	We must
vous devez	You must (more than 1 person or formal)
ils/elles doivent	They must

Listen to those examples:

Je dois aller au travail.I have to go to work.

Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.You must do the dishes first.

Elle doit faire ses devoirs.She must do her homework.

Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.We must hurry, we're already late.

Vous devez partir maintenant?Do you have to leave now?

Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.They have to save money.

See also other modal verbs:

Conjugate pouvoir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Conjugate vouloir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Je dois aller au travail.I have to go to work.

Elle doit faire ses devoirs.She must do her homework.

Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.We must hurry, we're already late.

Vous devez partir maintenant?Do you have to leave now?

Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.They have to save money.

Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien.A hunter who knows how to hunt must know how to hunt without his dog.

Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.You must do the dishes first.

Getting that for you now...