French word

conduire

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃dɥiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdrive

Example

Je conduis la voiture tous les jours.

I drive the car every day.

Illustration for conduire (drive)

More examples

Il a été arrêté parce qu'il conduisait sans permis.

He was arrested because he was driving without a license.

Core concept

A person at the wheel directs a vehicle's speed and path toward a destination, or leads someone along the way.

Common phrases

  • conduire sans permis

    drive without a license

  • conduire la nuit

    drive at night

Similar words

rouler: Drive a car or motorcycle along a road.
emmener: Take a person or animal with you from one place to another.
amener: Bring a person or animal to a particular place.
accompagner: Go with someone to their destination.

Definition in French

Prendre le volant pour diriger un véhicule en contrôlant sa marche; par extension, guider ou emmener une personne.

Word origin

Conduire developed through Old French from Latin conducere, meaning to bring or lead together, and later acquired the sense of driving a vehicle.

Usage tips

  • The present tense is irregular: je conduis contrasts with nous conduisons, and the past participle is conduit.

Other meanings

  • leadverb
  • guideverb
  • takeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word