Devenir means “to become” and is used to express change or transformation. It is an essential, irregular verb, part of the “venir” family, and is conjugated similarly to venir, revenir, and venir. Because it describes becoming something else, it’s often employed in both literal and figurative contexts—rising through social status, changing moods, or evolving roles.
- Devenir = to become (change/transformation)
- Expresses new states, roles, or identities
- Part of the same group as venir (to come)
"Devenir" means "to become."
Devenir as a Regular/Irregular Verb?
Devenir is irregular: although it follows a pattern shared by venir and its relatives (revenir, prévenir), it's not conjugated like typical -er, -ir, or -re verbs. You must memorize its stem changes and endings.
- Not a regular -er/-ir/-re verb
- Conjugated like venir and relatives
"Devenir" is an irregular verb.
How Do You Use Devenir?
Use devenir when someone or something becomes a new way, role, identity, or condition. It’s used for people, things, and abstract ideas alike.
- Use for transformation or becoming
- Applies to people, things, and ideas
Devenir Conjugation: Present Tense
Here’s how devenir is conjugated in the present tense, following the pattern of venir—note the stem “deviens-” for most forms and “devien-” for il/elle/on:
| Person | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | deviens | I become |
| Tu | deviens | You become |
| Il/Elle/On | devient | He/She/One becomes |
| Nous | devenons | We become |
| Vous | devenez | You become |
| Ils/Elles | deviennent | They become |
Example: Elle devient médecin. (She becomes a doctor.)
The correct form is "devenons."
Devenir in Past Tense (Passé Composé)
Use être as the auxiliary verb (not avoir), because devenir is a verb of movement/change, and agree the past participle with the subject:
- Auxiliary: être
- Past Participle: devenu (agree in gender/number)
| Subject | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Je | suis devenu(e) | Je suis devenu(e) fatigué(e). |
| Tu | es devenu(e) | Tu es devenu(e) célèbre. |
| Il/Elle | est devenu(e) | Il est devenu fort. |
| Nous | sommes devenu(e)s | Nous sommes devenus amis. |
| Vous | êtes devenu(e)(s)(es) | Vous êtes devenus... |
| Ils/Elles | sont devenus(es) | Ils sont devenus riches. |
Example: Elle est devenue heureuse. (She became happy.)
Devenir uses 'être' in the passé composé.
The past participle of "devenir" is "devenu."
Summary: Why is Devenir Important?
Devenir lets you describe real change, not just temporary states. Mastering it lets you talk about growth, transformation, and evolution—key ideas in any conversation.
- Expresses transformation and growth
- Central to describing life changes
- Irregular, but follows a logical pattern with venir
"Devenir" means "to become."
"Devenir" is irregular and conjugated like "venir."
"Devenir" uses être for the passé composé.
Use "devenir" to express change or transformation—when someone or something becomes something else.
The sentence means "She becomes a doctor."
A2/B1: Devenir in Context
- When a child becomes a teenager, they deviennent...
- If someone changes mood during the day, they deviennent ...
- When a company becomes successful, it devient...
- If friends become colleagues, they deviennent...
- When a rumor becomes truth, it devient...
Yes, you can use "devenir" to describe someone changing their profession.
"devenir" is suitable for both positive and negative changes.
"Devenir" is used for transformations like becoming a teacher, changing states of matter, or a city growing.