boire

Irregular Verb Boire (To Drink)

Level 1

boire (to drink) is a high-frequency irregular verb. It changes its stem depending on the subject: je bois, nous buvons, ils boivent.

How It Works

The verb boire is essential for daily life but requires memorization due to its unique conjugation pattern and pronunciation shifts.

The Conjugation Table:

Usage with Articles:
When talking about drinking, French usually uses a partitive article (du, de la, de l', or des) because we are typically drinking an unspecified amount of a liquid (e.g., Je bois du café).

Negation Rule:
In negative sentences, these articles change to de (or d' before a vowel). For example, Je ne bois pas de café or Je ne bois pas d'eau. This follows the pas de after negation rule.

Boire vs. Prendre:
While boire means the physical act of drinking, French speakers often use prendre (to take) when ordering at a restaurant or cafe (e.g., Je prends un thé).

Examples (6)

  1. Je bois de l'eau minérale.

    I am drinking mineral water.

    Word by Word: I drink of the water mineral.

    Uses the 'boi-' stem for the first person singular and the partitive article 'de l'' before a vowel.

  2. Nous ne buvons pas de vin.

    We do not drink wine.

    Word by Word: We not drink not of wine.

    In a negative sentence with ne...pas, the partitive article changes to de.

  3. Elle ne boit pas d'eau gazeuse.

    She does not drink sparkling water.

    Word by Word: She not drinks not of water sparkling.

    When negating, 'de' becomes 'd'' before a vowel sound, following the pas de after negation rule.

  4. Ils boivent un verre de vin.

    They are drinking a glass of wine.

    Word by Word: They drink a glass of wine.

    Uses the third stem 'boiv-' for the third person plural.

  5. Je prends un thé, s'il vous plaît.

    I'll have a tea, please.

    Word by Word: I take a tea, if it you pleases.

    While 'boire' means to drink, French speakers often use prendre when ordering.

  6. Est-ce que vous buvez du café ?

    Do you drink coffee?

    Word by Word: Is it that you drink of the coffee?

    Uses the 'buv-' stem for the 'vous' form in a question.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the 'buv-' stem for the 'ils/elles' form.

    Ils buvent du lait.
    Ils boivent du lait.

    The third person plural uses the 'boiv-' stem, not 'buv-'. This is a very common error for beginners.

  • Using the 'boi-' stem for 'nous' or 'vous'.

    Nous boivons de l'eau.
    Nous buvons de l'eau.

    The 'nous' and 'vous' forms must use the 'buv-' stem.

  • Confusing 'boire' with 'prendre' when ordering.

    Je bois un café, s'il vous plaît.
    Je prends un café, s'il vous plaît.

    While 'boire' is grammatically correct, 'prendre' is the more natural choice when ordering a drink in a social or commercial setting.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

boireLevel 1Irregular Verb Boire (To Drink)

Learn This First

To learn the irregular verb 'boire', you first need to be comfortable with French subject pronouns. It is also helpful to understand the standard -re verb conjugation pattern to recognize how 'boire' deviates from it, particularly with its stem changes in the plural forms. Additionally, since 'boire' is almost always used with partitive articles (like 'du' or 'de la'), knowing those will help you form complete sentences.

Words in This Pattern

boire