French Verb 'Aimer': Conjugation, Meanings & Expressing Love
Aimer (infinitive) is the primary French verb for both "to like" and "to love." Context, pronouns, and adverbs distinguish the intensity.
Key Distinction: Aimer vs. Aimer Bien
| Construction | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| Aimer + person | To love (romantic, familial, deep affection) | J'aime Marie. (I love Marie.) |
| Aimer bien + person | To like (appreciate, get along with) | J'aime bien Marie. (I like Marie.) |
| Aimer + thing/activity | To like / enjoy | J'aime le chocolat. (I like/love chocolate.) |
| Adorer + person/thing | To love / adore (stronger than aimer for things) | J'adore ce film ! (I love this movie!) |
Present Tense Conjugation (Indicatif Présent)
j'aime nous aimons
tu aimes vous aimez
il/elle/on aime ils/elles aiment
Note: Pronunciation of 'j'aime', 'tu aimes', 'il aime', 'ils aiment' is identical /ʒɛm/ – only spelling distinguishes.
Passive Voice: "To Be Loved"
- Present: Je suis aimé(e) (I am loved). Agreement: add -e if subject feminine.
- Passé composé: J'ai été aimé(e) (I was loved / have been loved).
- Imparfait: J'étais aimé(e) (I was loved / used to be loved).
Common Expressions
- S'aimer (reflexive): To love each other (Ils s'aiment).
- Bien aimer: To like quite a lot (Je t'aime bien = I like you [friend]).
- Beaucoup aimer: To like/love a lot (Je t'aime beaucoup = stronger than bien, but Je t'aime alone = romantic love).
- Avoir de l'affection pour: To have affection for (less intense).
Pronunciation Tips
- Ai = /ɛ/ (open e, like "bet") in j'aime, aime, aiment.
- Aim = /ɛm/ (nasalized) in aimons, aimez.
- Liaison: Nous aimons → /nu.z‿ɛ.mɔ̃/; Vous aimez → /vu.z‿ɛ.me/.
Master the aimer / aimer bien distinction—it's the key to not accidentally declaring love when you mean "like"!
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