Learning how to say “have” in French can be very helpful when talking about what you own, what you need, or even what you must do. In French, the word “have” is often linked to the verb avoir, which means “to have.” This verb is one of the most common in the French language and is used in many different situations.
In this article, you will learn how to say “have” in French, along with phrases like “I have,” “you have,” “we have,” and more. You’ll also discover different ways to use the word in sentences and how to respond naturally. By the end, you’ll be ready to use “have” in everyday conversations with confidence.
Ways to Say “Have” in French
In French, “have” is commonly expressed using the verb avoir. This verb is used to describe possession, relationships, age, and even certain expressions. Let’s explore different ways to say “have” in French with examples to understand its usage better.
1. J’ai (I have)
Pronunciation: zh-ay
Meaning: I have something.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai un chien. (I have a dog.)
- J’ai deux frères. (I have two brothers.)
2. Tu as (You have – informal)
Pronunciation: tew ah
Meaning: You have (used for friends or family).
In a Sentence:
- Tu as un stylo? (Do you have a pen?)
- Tu as faim? (Are you hungry?)
3. Vous avez (You have – formal/plural)
Pronunciation: voo zah-vay
Meaning: You have (formal or plural).
In a Sentence:
- Vous avez un rendez-vous. (You have an appointment.)
- Vous avez des questions? (Do you have any questions?)
4. Il a (He has)
Pronunciation: eel ah
Meaning: He has something.
In a Sentence:
- Il a une voiture rouge. (He has a red car.)
- Il a un examen demain. (He has a test tomorrow.)
5. Elle a (She has)
Pronunciation: el ah
Meaning: She has something.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a un chat mignon. (She has a cute cat.)
- Elle a beaucoup de travail. (She has a lot of work.)
6. Nous avons (We have)
Pronunciation: noo zah-vohn
Meaning: We have something.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons une maison à Paris. (We have a house in Paris.)
- Nous avons des amis formidables. (We have great friends.)
7. Ils ont (They have – masculine/mixed)
Pronunciation: eel-zohn
Meaning: They have something (masculine or mixed group).
In a Sentence:
- Ils ont un chien et un chat. (They have a dog and a cat.)
- Ils ont fini leurs devoirs. (They have finished their homework.)
8. Elles ont (They have – feminine)
Pronunciation: el-zohn
Meaning: They have something (feminine group).
In a Sentence:
- Elles ont des fleurs magnifiques. (They have beautiful flowers.)
- Elles ont beaucoup d’énergie. (They have a lot of energy.)
9. Puis-je avoir (May I have – formal)
Pronunciation: pwee zhuh ah-vwahr
Meaning: May I have something (formal).
In a Sentence:
- Puis-je avoir un verre d’eau? (May I have a glass of water?)
- Puis-je avoir le menu, s’il vous plaît? (May I have the menu, please?)
10. On a (We have – informal)
Pronunciation: ohn ah
Meaning: We have something (informal).
In a Sentence:
- On a du temps libre cet après-midi. (We have free time this afternoon.)
- On a des places pour le concert. (We have tickets for the concert.)
11. J’ai besoin de (I need/have to)
Pronunciation: zh-ay buh-zwan duh
Meaning: I need or I have to.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai besoin de dormir. (I need to sleep.)
- J’ai besoin d’aide. (I need help.)
12. Tu dois (You have to – informal)
Pronunciation: tew dwah
Meaning: You have to do something (informal).
In a Sentence:
- Tu dois étudier pour l’examen. (You have to study for the exam.)
- Tu dois ranger ta chambre. (You have to clean your room.)
13. Il doit (He has to)
Pronunciation: eel dwah
Meaning: He has to do something.
In a Sentence:
- Il doit aller à l’école. (He has to go to school.)
- Il doit finir son projet. (He has to finish his project.)
14. Elle doit (She has to)
Pronunciation: el dwah
Meaning: She has to do something.
In a Sentence:
- Elle doit partir maintenant. (She has to leave now.)
- Elle doit appeler sa mère. (She has to call her mother.)
15. Nous devons (We have to)
Pronunciation: noo duh-vohn
Meaning: We have to do something.
In a Sentence:
- Nous devons étudier pour l’examen. (We have to study for the exam.)
- Nous devons être à l’heure. (We have to be on time.)
16. Ils doivent (They have to – masculine/mixed)
Pronunciation: eel dwahv
Meaning: They have to do something (masculine or mixed group).
In a Sentence:
- Ils doivent partir tôt. (They have to leave early.)
- Ils doivent finir leur travail. (They have to finish their work.)
17. Elles doivent (They have to – feminine)
Pronunciation: el dwahv
Meaning: They have to do something (feminine group).
In a Sentence:
- Elles doivent préparer le dîner. (They have to prepare dinner.)
- Elles doivent étudier pour l’examen. (They have to study for the exam.)
18. Avoir faim (To be hungry)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr fam
Meaning: To be hungry.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai faim. (I am hungry.)
- Tu as faim après le sport? (Are you hungry after sports?)
19. Avoir soif (To be thirsty)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr swaf
Meaning: To be thirsty.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai soif après ma course. (I am thirsty after my run.)
- Nous avons soif après la randonnée. (We are thirsty after the hike.)
20. Avoir raison (To be right)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr ray-zohn
Meaning: To be right.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as raison. (You are right.)
- Ils ont raison sur ce point. (They are right about that.)
21. Avoir tort (To be wrong)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr tor
Meaning: To be wrong.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as tort de mentir. (You are wrong to lie.)
- Ils ont tort sur cette question. (They are wrong about this issue.)
22. Avoir peur (To be afraid)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr puhr
Meaning: To be afraid.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai peur du noir. (I am afraid of the dark.)
- Elle a peur de parler en public. (She is afraid of public speaking.)
23. Avoir chaud (To be hot)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr show
Meaning: To feel hot.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai chaud en été. (I feel hot in the summer.)
- Tu as chaud après avoir couru. (You feel hot after running.)
24. Avoir froid (To be cold)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr frwah
Meaning: To be cold.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons froid sans manteau. (We are cold without a coat.)
- J’ai froid ce matin. (I am cold this morning.)
25. Avoir sommeil (To be sleepy)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr so-may
Meaning: To be sleepy.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai sommeil après le dîner. (I am sleepy after dinner.)
- Les enfants ont sommeil à 8 heures. (The children are sleepy at 8 PM.)
26. Avoir de la chance (To be lucky)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr duh lah shahnss
Meaning: To be lucky.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai de la chance de t’avoir comme ami. (I’m lucky to have you as a friend.)
- Il a de la chance de trouver un bon emploi. (He is lucky to find a good job.)
27. Avoir besoin de quelque chose (To need something)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr buh-zwan duh kel-kuh shohz
Meaning: To need something.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai besoin de repos. (I need rest.)
- Nous avons besoin de plus d’eau. (We need more water.)
28. Avoir envie de (To feel like/to want)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr ahn-vee duh
Meaning: To want or feel like doing something.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai envie de manger une pizza. (I feel like eating pizza.)
- Ils ont envie de partir en vacances. (They want to go on vacation.)
29. Avoir du mal à (To have difficulty with)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr dew mahl ah
Meaning: To struggle with or have difficulty.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai du mal à comprendre ce chapitre. (I’m having trouble understanding this chapter.)
- Elle a du mal à se concentrer. (She has difficulty concentrating.)
30. Avoir l’habitude de (To be used to)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr lah-bee-tewd duh
Meaning: To be used to something.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai l’habitude de me lever tôt. (I’m used to getting up early.)
- Ils ont l’habitude de voyager en été. (They are used to traveling in the summer.)
31. Avoir le temps (To have time)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr luh tahn
Meaning: To have time.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai le temps de finir ce projet. (I have time to finish this project.)
- Tu as le temps de regarder un film? (Do you have time to watch a movie?)
32. Avoir rendez-vous (To have an appointment)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr rahn-day-voo
Meaning: To have an appointment or meeting.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai rendez-vous chez le médecin. (I have an appointment with the doctor.)
- Ils ont rendez-vous à 14h. (They have an appointment at 2 PM.)
33. Avoir l’air (To seem/to look)
Pronunciation: ah-vwahr lehr
Meaning: To seem or look like.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as l’air fatigué. (You seem tired.)
- Il a l’air content aujourd’hui. (He looks happy today.)
Other Ways to Say “Have” in French
Below is a table listing different ways to say “have” in French, including pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences. These phrases cover various contexts like needing, possessing, or feeling something.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Avoir des amis | ah-vwahr dayz ah-mee | To have friends | J’ai des amis à Paris. (I have friends in Paris.) |
| Avoir un travail | ah-vwahr uhn trah-vay | To have a job | Elle a un travail intéressant. (She has an interesting job.) |
| Avoir une idée | ah-vwahr ewn ee-day | To have an idea | J’ai une idée pour notre projet. (I have an idea for our project.) |
| Avoir une maison | ah-vwahr ewn meh-zohn | To have a house | Ils ont une maison à la campagne. (They have a house in the countryside.) |
| Avoir un problème | ah-vwahr uhn proh-blehm | To have a problem | Nous avons un problème technique. (We have a technical problem.) |
| Avoir de la patience | ah-vwahr duh lah pah-syahns | To have patience | Tu dois avoir de la patience. (You must have patience.) |
| Avoir du courage | ah-vwahr dew koo-rahj | To have courage | Il a eu beaucoup de courage. (He showed a lot of courage.) |
| Avoir l’intention de | ah-vwahr lan-tan-syon duh | To intend to do something | J’ai l’intention de voyager cet été. (I intend to travel this summer.) |
| Avoir de l’espoir | ah-vwahr duh leh-spwahr | To have hope | Nous avons de l’espoir pour l’avenir. (We have hope for the future.) |
| Avoir du talent | ah-vwahr dew tah-lahn | To have talent | Elle a beaucoup de talent en musique. (She has a lot of talent in music.) |
| Avoir du temps libre | ah-vwahr dew tahn lee-bruh | To have free time | J’ai du temps libre ce week-end. (I have free time this weekend.) |
| Avoir de l’énergie | ah-vwahr duh leh-neh-rzhee | To have energy | Les enfants ont beaucoup d’énergie. (The children have a lot of energy.) |
| Avoir un rendez-vous | ah-vwahr rahn-day-voo | To have an appointment | J’ai un rendez-vous à 15h. (I have an appointment at 3 PM.) |
| Avoir un animal de compagnie | ah-vwahr uhn ah-nee-mahl duh kohm-pah-nyee | To have a pet | Ils ont un animal de compagnie très mignon. (They have a very cute pet.) |
| Avoir une passion | ah-vwahr ewn pah-syon | To have a passion | J’ai une passion pour la peinture. (I have a passion for painting.) |
Responses to “Have” in French
When someone uses the verb avoir (to have) in French, there are various ways to respond depending on the context. You might agree, disagree, express surprise, or ask follow-up questions. Here are common responses you can use naturally in conversations.
1. Oui, j’ai… (Yes, I have…)
Meaning: Agreeing that you have something.
In a Sentence:
- Oui, j’ai un stylo. (Yes, I have a pen.)
- Oui, j’ai le livre. (Yes, I have the book.)
2. Non, je n’ai pas… (No, I don’t have…)
Meaning: Denying possession.
In a Sentence:
- Non, je n’ai pas de voiture. (No, I don’t have a car.)
- Non, je n’ai pas mon sac. (No, I don’t have my bag.)
3. Tu as vraiment…? (Do you really have…?)
Meaning: Expressing surprise.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as vraiment une maison en France? (Do you really have a house in France?)
- Tu as vraiment un chien? (Do you really have a dog?)
4. Moi aussi, j’ai… (I also have…)
Meaning: Agreeing that you also have something.
In a Sentence:
- Moi aussi, j’ai un vélo. (I also have a bike.)
- Moi aussi, j’ai un examen demain. (I also have an exam tomorrow.)
5. Je crois que j’ai… (I think I have…)
Meaning: Expressing uncertainty.
In a Sentence:
- Je crois que j’ai le numéro de téléphone. (I think I have the phone number.)
- Je crois que j’ai une solution. (I think I have a solution.)
6. As-tu… ? (Do you have…?)
Meaning: Asking if someone has something.
In a Sentence:
- As-tu une idée? (Do you have an idea?)
- As-tu le temps maintenant? (Do you have time now?)
7. Je n’ai plus… (I no longer have…)
Meaning: Indicating that you no longer possess something.
In a Sentence:
- Je n’ai plus de batterie. (I no longer have battery power.)
- Je n’ai plus de place. (I no longer have room.)
8. Heureusement, j’ai… (Fortunately, I have…)
Meaning: Expressing relief.
In a Sentence:
- Heureusement, j’ai mes clés. (Fortunately, I have my keys.)
- Heureusement, j’ai fini mes devoirs. (Fortunately, I have finished my homework.)
9. Je n’ai jamais… (I have never…)
Meaning: Expressing something you have never experienced or owned.
In a Sentence:
- Je n’ai jamais visité Paris. (I have never visited Paris.)
- Je n’ai jamais eu de chat. (I have never had a cat.)
10. Bien sûr, j’ai… (Of course, I have…)
Meaning: Confirming that you have something.
In a Sentence:
- Bien sûr, j’ai ton numéro. (Of course, I have your number.)
- Bien sûr, j’ai apporté mon passeport. (Of course, I brought my passport.)
11. Peut-être que j’ai… (Maybe I have…)
Meaning: Expressing possibility or uncertainty.
In a Sentence:
- Peut-être que j’ai laissé mon téléphone à la maison. (Maybe I left my phone at home.)
- Peut-être que j’ai une solution. (Maybe I have a solution.)
12. Je n’en ai aucune idée. (I have no idea.)
Meaning: Expressing complete lack of knowledge.
In a Sentence:
- Où est ton sac? Je n’en ai aucune idée. (Where is your bag? I have no idea.)
- Comment résoudre ce problème? Je n’en ai aucune idée. (How to solve this problem? I have no idea.)
13. Je n’ai pas encore… (I haven’t yet…)
Meaning: Indicating that you haven’t done something yet.
In a Sentence:
- Je n’ai pas encore fini mon travail. (I haven’t finished my work yet.)
- Je n’ai pas encore vu ce film. (I haven’t seen that movie yet.)
Exercise to Practice “Have” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using phrases with avoir (to have) in French. Try completing each sentence using the correct form of the verb and related expressions. After the exercises, you’ll find the answers with meanings in English.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- J’_______ un chien très mignon.
- Tu _______ un examen demain?
- Il _______ une idée intéressante pour le projet.
- Nous _______ une grande maison à Paris.
- Elles _______ beaucoup d’énergie après le sport.
- Puis-je _______ un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît?
- Vous _______ des amis formidables.
- Elle _______ une passion pour la peinture.
- Ils _______ un rendez-vous avec le médecin à 14h.
- J’_______ faim après l’entraînement.
- Tu _______ besoin de plus d’informations pour le voyage.
- Nous _______ de la chance de voyager ensemble cet été.
Answers and Meanings:
- J’ai un chien très mignon. (I have a very cute dog.)
- Tu as un examen demain? (Do you have an exam tomorrow?)
- Il a une idée intéressante pour le projet. (He has an interesting idea for the project.)
- Nous avons une grande maison à Paris. (We have a big house in Paris.)
- Elles ont beaucoup d’énergie après le sport. (They have a lot of energy after sports.)
- Puis-je avoir un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît? (May I have a glass of water, please?)
- Vous avez des amis formidables. (You have great friends.)
- Elle a une passion pour la peinture. (She has a passion for painting.)
- Ils ont un rendez-vous avec le médecin à 14h. (They have an appointment with the doctor at 2 PM.)
- J’ai faim après l’entraînement. (I am hungry after practice.)
- Tu as besoin de plus d’informations pour le voyage. (You need more information for the trip.)
- Nous avons de la chance de voyager ensemble cet été. (We are lucky to travel together this summer.)
Conclusion
Mastering how to say “have” in French opens the door to many useful conversations. The verb avoir is essential for talking about what you own, need, or feel. From simple phrases like “J’ai un livre” (I have a book) to polite requests like “Puis-je avoir…” (May I have…), this verb helps express everyday thoughts clearly.
Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided. Use these phrases in real-life conversations with friends, teachers, or family members. The more you practice, the more natural speaking French will become. Soon, using avoir will feel just as easy as saying “have” in English! Bon courage!