The verb partir means “to leave” or “to depart” in French. It is an irregular verb belonging to the third group, and it follows the conjugation pattern of verbs ending in -tir.
Conjugations
Present Indicative
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | pars | I | leave | Je pars à huit heures. | I leave at eight o’clock. |
| Tu | pars | You | leave | Tu pars en vacances demain. | You leave on vacation tomorrow. |
| Il/Elle | part | He/She | leaves | Elle part tôt ce matin. | She leaves early this morning. |
| Nous | partons | We | leave | Nous partons ensemble. | We leave together. |
| Vous | partez | You (pl.) | leave | Vous partez bientôt ? | Are you leaving soon? |
| Ils/Elles | partent | They | leave | Ils partent à midi. | They leave at noon. |
Passé Composé
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | suis parti(e) | I | left | Je suis parti(e) tôt. | I left early. |
| Tu | es parti(e) | You | left | Tu es parti(e) avant moi. | You left before me. |
| Il/Elle | est parti(e) | He/She | left | Il est parti en voyage. | He left for a trip. |
| Nous | sommes parti(e)s | We | left | Nous sommes partis hier. | We left yesterday. |
| Vous | êtes parti(e)(s) | You (pl.) | left | Vous êtes parti(e)(s) tard. | You left late. |
| Ils/Elles | sont parti(e)s | They | left | Elles sont parties tôt. | They left early. |
Imperfect
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | partais | I | was leaving | Je partais toujours en juillet. | I was always leaving in July. |
| Tu | partais | You | were leaving | Tu partais quand il arrivait. | You were leaving when he arrived. |
| Il/Elle | partait | He/She | was leaving | Elle partait chaque matin. | She was leaving every morning. |
| Nous | partions | We | were leaving | Nous partions ensemble. | We were leaving together. |
| Vous | partiez | You (pl.) | were leaving | Vous partiez tard le soir. | You were leaving late at night. |
| Ils/Elles | partaient | They | were leaving | Ils partaient toujours en train. | They were always leaving by train. |
Future
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | partirai | I | will leave | Je partirai demain matin. | I will leave tomorrow morning. |
| Tu | partiras | You | will leave | Tu partiras bientôt. | You will leave soon. |
| Il/Elle | partira | He/She | will leave | Il partira sans nous. | He will leave without us. |
| Nous | partirons | We | will leave | Nous partirons à midi. | We will leave at noon. |
| Vous | partirez | You (pl.) | will leave | Vous partirez en train ? | Will you leave by train? |
| Ils/Elles | partiront | They | will leave | Elles partiront ce soir. | They will leave this evening. |
Subjunctive Present
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Que je | parte | That I | leave | Que je parte tôt. | That I leave early. |
| Que tu | partes | That you | leave | Que tu partes maintenant. | That you leave now. |
| Qu’il/elle | parte | That he/she | leave | Qu’il parte seul. | That he leave alone. |
| Que nous | partions | That we | leave | Que nous partions ensemble. | That we leave together. |
| Que vous | partiez | That you (pl.) | leave | Que vous partiez vite. | That you leave quickly. |
| Qu’ils/elles | partent | That they | leave | Qu’ils partent demain. | That they leave tomorrow. |
Imperative
| French Pronoun | French Verb | English Pronoun | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Tu) | pars | (You) | leave | Pars tout de suite ! | Leave right away! |
| (Nous) | partons | (We) | let’s leave | Partons ensemble. | Let’s leave together. |
| (Vous) | partez | (You pl.) | leave | Partez maintenant ! | Leave now! |
Usage
- partir de + [place/time] = to leave from [place/time]
Je pars de la maison à 7 h.*
- partir pour + [destination] = to leave for [destination]
Ils partent pour Paris.*
- partir en + [mode of transportation/state] = to leave by [transport]/to go into [state]
Elle part en vacances.*
- partir + adverb = to leave + [adverb]
Nous partons bientôt.*
Examples
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Je pars maintenant. | I’m leaving now. |
| Tu es parti(e) sans dire au revoir. | You left without saying goodbye. |
| Il partira demain matin. | He will leave tomorrow morning. |
| Nous partons en train. | We are leaving by train. |
| Partez vite ! | Leave quickly! |
Tips
- The auxiliary verb for passé composé is être, and the past participle agrees in gender and number.
- partir is often confused with quitter (to quit/leave something) and s’en aller (to go away), but partir specifically means “to depart.”
Flashcards (1 of 38)
- English Pronoun: I
- English Verb: leave
- English Example: I leave at eight o’clock.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
