conduire
/kɔ̃.dɥiʁ/
To drive in French is conduire.
While conduire primarily means to drive a vehicle, it can also mean to lead or guide someone or something to a destination.
Which one should you use?
Use conduire for operating a vehicle, but use rouler to describe the act of a vehicle moving or rolling along a road.
How does it change in a sentence?
Its third-person plural present tense form is conduisent.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔ̃.dɥiʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, the word conducteur means both 'driver' and 'electrical conductor'.
- When a French person says conduire quelqu'un, they are often not driving a car but are simply escorting someone to a door or a station.
- The term permis de conduire literally translates to 'permit to lead', reflecting the word's ancient meaning of guiding others.
Examples in context
- Qui va conduire ?Who's going to drive?This sentence uses conduire to ask who will be the driver.Tatoeba #3259948 by Julien_PDC, translation #3259949 by CK
- Je sais déjà conduire.I already know how to drive.This sentence uses conduire to express a known ability to drive.Tatoeba #2355022 by Amastan, translation #2291628 by CK
- Je n'aime pas conduire.I don't like to drive.This sentence uses conduire to express a dislike for driving.Tatoeba #2505017 by sacredceltic, translation #2276105 by CK
- Je conduis une voitureI drive a car
- On roule jusqu'à ParisWe're driving to Paris
- Elle conduit la voitureShe drives the car
- Est-ce qu'il a conduit la voiture ?Did he drive the car?
- Je n'ai pas conduit hierI didn't drive yesterday
- Paul adore rouler dans les rues de ParisPaul loves driving through the streets of Paris
- Est-ce que tu sais comment piloter un bateau ?Do you know how to drive a boat?
- 202 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are planning a trip to the city.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu peux conduire aujourd'hui, Nathan ?Can you drive today, Nathan?
- NathanOui, je peux conduire sans problème.Yes, I can drive without any problem.
- ChloéMerci, je préfère lire pendant le trajet.Thanks, I prefer to read during the trip.
- NathanD'accord, on part dans dix minutes.Okay, we leave in ten minutes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry conduire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
