French Verb 'devenir': Complete Guide to Meaning, Conjugation & Usage

When learning French, it's essential to master the verb "devenir", which is a crucial part of everyday conversation. "Devenir" means "to become" or "to turn into", and understanding its various meanings, conjugations, and uses will help you express yourself more effectively in French.

What Does 'devenir' Mean in French?

"Devenir" can have several nuances depending on the context. Primarily, it means to transform into something or someone else. For example: * J'ai décidé devenir végétarien, meaning "I decided to become a vegetarian". * La ville est devenue une grande metropole, meaning "The city has become a big metropolis". In other cases, "devenir" implies a gradual change or development over time: * J'ai décidé devenir un enseignant, meaning "I decided to become a teacher". * Les enfants ont dévenus très intelligents, meaning "The children have become very intelligent".

Conjugation of 'devenir'

Here's the conjugation table for "devenir" in the present, past, and future tenses:

Pronoun	Present	Passé composé	Futur simple
J'.	décide devenir	je deviendrai
Tu	décides devenir	t'es décidé devenir	tu deviendras
Ils/Elles	décident devenir	ils/elles deviendront

How to Use 'devenir' in a Sentence

Here are six example sentences showcasing the different tenses and contexts: * J'ai décidé devenir enseignant pour aider les jeunes, meaning "I decided to become a teacher to help young people". (Passé composé) * J'ai défini devenir un écrivain célèbre, meaning "I've defined becoming a famous writer". (Present) * Je deviendrai chef dans cinq ans, meaning "I'll become a chef in five years". (Futur simple) * La ville a dévenu une attraction touristique, meaning "The city has become a tourist attraction". (Passé composé) * J'ai décidé devenir végétalien pour ma santé, meaning "I decided to become vegan for my health". (Present) * Les étudiants sont devenus très professionnels, meaning "The students have become very professional". (Passé composé)

Common Expressions and Phrases with 'devenir'

Here are four idiomatic French expressions using the verb "devenir": * Faire son trou dans le monde: to make a name for oneself, meaning "to become someone" Example: Le jeune musicien a fait son trou dans le monde avec sa dernière chanson. * S'adapter à la situation: to adapt to the situation Example: Les gens doivent s'adapter à la situation économique pour survivre. * S'en prendre à quelqu'un: to take something out on someone Example: J'ai décidé de ne pas m'en prendre à mon frère après cette dispute. * S'aimer soi-même: to love oneself Example: Il a décidé de s'aimer soi-même pour être plus heureux.

Tips for Remembering 'devenir'

To help you remember the conjugation of "devenir", try these tips: * Focus on the root verb "venir" and its common meanings, which will aid in understanding the nuances of "devenir". * Practice conjugating the present tense by replacing the infinitive form with the correct pronoun (e.g., j'-, tu -, il/elle/on -). * Use flashcards or online resources to reinforce your learning. Practice the verb devenir on My-French.com