All about Faire

Faire is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to do" or "to make." Faire is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions and in the causative construction.

To Do / To Make

Faire means "to do" and "to make" in most senses that these verbs are used in English.

   Je fais la lessive - I'm doing the laundry.

   Je fais mes devoirs - I'm doing my homework.

   Je fais du bricolage - I do odd jobs / DIY.

   Je fais un gâteau - I'm making a cake.

   Je fais des projets - I'm making plans.

   Je fais des progrès - I'm making progress.


Exceptions

1) When "to make" is followed by an adjective, it is translated by rendre:
   Ça me rend heureux. - That makes me happy

2) "To make a decision" is translated by prendre une décision:
   J'ai pris une décision. - I made a decision

  Lesson on translating "to make"


Expressions with faire

Faire is used in a number of idiomatic expressions, including some related to weather, sports, and math.

   Il fait du soleil - It's sunny
   Il fait froid - It's cold out.

   Je fais du ski - I ski.
   Je fais du golf - I golf.

   Deux et deux font quatre - Two plus two equals (makes) four.

   Je fais de l'autostop - I'm hitchhiking.

   Il fait à sa tête - He acts impulsively.

   Ça fait parti de notre projet - That's part of our plan.

More expressions with faire


Causative

The causative construction faire + infinitive is used to describe when someone/something has something done, makes someone do something, or causes something to happen.

   Je fais laver la voiture - I'm having the car washed.

   Il m'a fait laver la voiture - He made me wash the car.

   Le froid fait geler l'eau - Cold makes water freeze.


Conjugations

Present tense

   je fais
   tu fais
   il fait
   nous faisons
   vous faites
   ils font

All tenses | Conjugation quiz


Most common French verbs