Key Expressions with AVOIR That You Should Revise

The verb avoir is essential in French. Not only does it mean "to have," but it also forms part of many everyday expressions. Mastering these expressions can significantly improve your fluency and understanding of the language.

1. Avoir faim / soif (To be hungry/thirsty)

One of the most common expressions you’ll encounter with avoir is related to hunger and thirst. While in English, we use "to be hungry" or "to be thirsty," in French, we say:

- J’ai faim. (I am hungry.)

- Elle a soif. (She is thirsty.)

These expressions directly translate to "I have hunger" or "She has thirst." It’s a small shift, but it's crucial to sound natural in French.

 2. Avoir chaud / froid (To be hot / cold)

To express being hot or cold, you don’t use être (to be) in French. Instead, you use avoir:

- Il a chaud. (He is hot.)

- Nous avons froid. (We are cold.)

 3. Avoir peur de (To be afraid)

To express fear, French uses avoir again:

- Ils ont peur des araignées. (They are afraid of spiders.) The sentence literally translates to "They have a fear of spiders," another example of French structures of expressions that differ from English.

- Tu as peur de l’avion ? (Are you afraid of flying?)

 4. Avoir envie de (To feel like / To want)

This versatile expression conveys the idea of desire or wanting to do something. For example:

- J’ai envie de manger du chocolat. (I feel like eating chocolate.)

- Avez-vous envie de sortir ce soir ? (Do you feel like going out tonight?)

Notice that avoir envie de is always followed by a verb in its infinitive form.

 5. Avoir besoin de (To need)

Avoir besoin de is how you express needing something or someone in French:

- Elle a besoin de sommeil. (She needs sleep.)

- Nous avons besoin de plus d’informations. (We need more information.)

This expression is essential when talking about necessities.

Let's Practice! - Fill in the Gaps with the Correct Form of AVOIR

Now that you’ve learned these common expressions, it’s time to practice. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of avoir and complete the sentence.

1. Quand il fait très chaud, j’___ souvent soif.

2. Vous ___ envie de partir en vacances cet été ?

3. Ils n’___ pas peur des serpents.

4. Nous ___ besoin de votre aide pour finir le projet.

5. Après le sport, elle ___ toujours faim.

Let’s translate! Translate the following sentences into French:

1. I am hungry.

2. They are cold.

3. We need time to finish this project.

4. She is afraid of dogs.

5. You want to go on vacation.

Ready to Test Your Knowledge?

If you are ready to take your French to the next level, practice these expressions in real-life conversations. Join our Fourmi Conversations workshops, where you can practice speaking with other learners and get guidance from expert teachers. It’s the perfect way to reinforce what you’ve learned. Find all the info here.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your confidence in French!