French Look-Alike Verbs

Learning French is exciting, but it can get confusing when you come across French look-alike verbs — especially when they seem to show up everywhere! As a beginner, it’s totally normal to mix them up — and this guide is here to help you tell them apart with confidence.

1. Group – rentrer
2. Group – entendre
3. Group – essayer
4. Group – tenter
5. Group – exiger
6. Group – courir

1. Group – rentrer

renter, rendre, retourner, rencontrer, raconter, revenir, retrouver.

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2. Group – entendre

entendre, étendre, détendre, teindre, éteindre, étreindre, restreindre.

French	English	Pronunciation
entendre	hear
étendre	extend
détendre	relax
teindre	dye
éteindre	turn off
étreindre	hug
restreindre	restrict

3. Group – essayer

essayer, essuyer, s’assoir, associer, s’assurer, s’ennuyer, appuyer, envoyer.

French	English	Pronunciation
essayer	try
essuyer	wipe
s’assoir	sit down
associer	join
s’assurer	ensure
s’ennuyer	get bored
appuyer	press
envoyer	send

4. Group – tenter

tenter, tentre, tondre, tordre, mordre, moudre, monter, mentir, montrer, coudre, fondre.

French	English	Pronunciation
tenter	attempt
tentre	stretch
tondre	mow
tordre	twist
mordre	bite
moudre	grind
coudre	sew
fondre	melt

5. Group – exiger

exiger, , exagérer, envisager, enseigner, renseigner, saigner, soigner.

French	English	Pronunciation
exiger	require
exagérer	exaggerate
envisager	consider
enseigner	teach
renseigner	inform
saigner	bleed
soigner	treat

6. Group – courir

courir, secourir, ouvrir, couvrir, entrouvrir, nourrir, sourire, suivre, survivre.

French	English	Pronunciation
courir	run
secourir	rescue
ouvrir	open
couvrir	cover
entrouvrir	open slightly
nourrir	feed
sourire	smile
suivre	follow
survivre	survive

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