Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| -ras | /ʁa/ /ʁɑ/ |
|
| -ra | /ʁa/ | |
| -rons | /ʁɔ̃/ | |
| -rez | /ʁe/ | |
| -ront | /ʁɔ̃/ | |
| aller | /a.le/ | colloquial |
The English word "will" can refer to the future tense of a verb. In French, this can be expressed using the Futur Simple (using the endings provided) or the near future construction using aller plus an infinitive. While the Futur Simple is often used for more distant or formal events, the near future is used for actions that are more immediate or certain.
Which one should you use?
The endings -ra, -rons, -rez and -ront are parts of the Futur Simple, which is typically used for more distant or formal future events. In contrast, the construction using aller is used to express the near future, which refers to immediate or certain actions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The Futur Simple is the most common way to express "will" in formal French. Conversely, the construction using aller is considered colloquial and is frequently used in everyday speech to express what the simple future would otherwise express.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The following endings are used for the Futur Simple: -ra is the third-person singular ending, -rons is the first-person plural ending, -rez is the second-person plural ending and -ront is the third-person plural ending. The form -ras is also a recognized form for this tense.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, French uses the present tense instead of 'will' when a specific time word like demain is used in casual conversation.
- The aller construction is so dominant that it is often used to express an immediate command, such as tu vas me répondre meaning 'you will answer me now'.
- French has a 'future in the past' tense, where you use the conditional form to describe something that 'would' happen from a past perspective.
Examples in context
- Il devra aller à la gare.He will have to go to the station.This sentence uses aller to express a future necessity.Tatoeba #500799 by sacredceltic, translation #294089 by CM
- Je vais y aller avec toi.I will accompany you.This sentence uses aller to express an intention to go.Tatoeba #1998821 by sacredceltic, translation #252723 by CM
- Je vais aller à 10 heures.I will go at 10.This sentence uses aller to express a scheduled future time.Tatoeba #453545 by sacredceltic, translation #453580 by CM
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “will” translations and entries -ras, -ra, -rons, -rez, -ront, aller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
