Rire: to laugh
Usage of rire
- Meaning: Rire means "to laugh" in French.
- Reflexive form: se rire de, meaning to laugh at someone or something.
- Common expressions: rire aux éclats (laugh out loud), rire jaune (forced laugh).
- Grammar: Rire is irregular and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Conjugations of rire
Here are the conjugations of rire in several key tenses:
| Tense | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Présent (Present) | Je ris souvent. | I laugh often. |
| Passé composé (Compound Past) | Nous avons ri hier. | We laughed yesterday. |
| Imparfait (Imperfect) | Elle riait toute la soirée. | She was laughing all evening. |
| Futur simple | Ils riront demain. | They will laugh tomorrow. |
| Conditionnel présent | Tu rirais si tu voyais ça. | You would laugh if you saw that. |
| Subjonctif présent | Que je rie, que tu ries... | That I laugh, that you laugh... |
She was laughing all evening.
Elle riait toute la soirée.
The imparfait form for "elle" is "riait." It correctly expresses an ongoing past action. Other forms are either non-existent or in a different tense/mood.
We laughed yesterday.
Nous avons ri hier.
In the passé composé, "rire" takes the auxiliary "avoir" and the past participle "ri." "Nous avons ri hier." means "We laughed yesterday." Other forms are incorrect.
Examples with rire
- Elle rit toujours de mes blagues. (She always laughs at my jokes.)
- Nous avons ri aux éclats. (We laughed out loud.)
- Riez, c’est bon pour la santé ! (Laugh, it’s good for your health!)
- Il se rit de toutes les difficultés. (He laughs at all difficulties.)
Common idioms with rire
Rire appears in several French idioms and expressions:
- Rire aux éclats: to laugh out loud.
- Rire jaune: to give a forced or bitter laugh.
- Être mort de rire: to be dying of laughter.
- Rire de bon cœur: to laugh heartily.
These idioms enrich everyday French and show the language’s playful side.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Tense: Présent (Present)
- English Example: I laugh often.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
