This is the definitive guide for anyone looking to master French verbs beginning with the letter “C.” Perfect for beginners and advanced learners alike, this list of 250 French verbs is your go-to resource for expanding your vocabulary and boosting your fluency. The verbs are ordered based on their frequency and practical use in everyday French, drawn from a variety of reliable sources.
For detailed conjugations of each verb, explore our complete French verb conjugation guide. Irregular verbs are highlighted in red for quick reference.
Why Learn French Verbs Starting with C?
Verbs are the heart of the French language, and those starting with “C” include some of the most essential ones, like commencer (to begin), comprendre (to understand), and connaître (to know). Mastering these verbs will empower you to express actions, emotions, and ideas with confidence. Whether you’re studying for exams, traveling to a French-speaking country, or simply passionate about the language, this list is a must-have tool.
Complete List of 250 French Verbs Starting with C
Below is the full list of 250 French verbs starting with the letter “C,” each accompanied by its English translation. The table is numbered for easy navigation, and irregular verbs are marked in red. Use this list to build your vocabulary and practice conjugations.
No. | Verb | English |
---|---|---|
1 | comprendre | to understand, to comprehend |
2 | commencer | to begin, to start |
3 | continuer | to continue |
4 | connaître | to know, to be familiar with |
5 | créer | to create |
6 | changer | to change |
7 | chercher | to look for, to search |
8 | choisir | to choose |
9 | conduire | to drive, to lead |
10 | couper | to cut |
11 | couvrir | to cover |
12 | croire | to believe |
13 | compter | to count, to intend |
14 | courir | to run |
15 | corriger | to correct |
16 | crier | to shout, to scream |
17 | cuisiner | to cook |
18 | craindre | to fear |
19 | célébrer | to celebrate |
20 | commander | to order, to command |
21 | construire | to build, to construct |
22 | chanter | to sing |
23 | collaborer | to collaborate |
24 | convaincre | to convince |
25 | conserver | to preserve, to keep |
26 | calculer | to calculate |
27 | causer | to cause, to chat |
28 | cesser | to stop, to cease |
29 | cuire | to cook, to bake |
30 | communiquer | to communicate |
31 | coudre | to sew |
32 | compléter | to complete |
33 | confirmer | to confirm |
34 | crire | to write (literary) |
35 | contrôler | to control, to check |
36 | coûter | to cost |
37 | croître | to grow |
38 | combattre | to fight, to combat |
39 | composer | to compose, to dial |
40 | consulter | to consult |
41 | couvrir | to cover (alternate form) |
42 | confondre | to confuse, to mix up |
43 | comparer | to compare |
44 | contribuer | to contribute |
45 | conclure | to conclude |
46 | cacher | to hide |
47 | camper | to camp |
48 | cueillir | to pick, to gather |
49 | critiquer | to criticize |
50 | convertir | to convert |
51 | contempler | to contemplate |
52 | contenir | to contain |
53 | contacter | to contact |
54 | contraindre | to constrain, to compel |
55 | copier | to copy |
56 | circonscrire | to circumscribe, to limit |
57 | clarifier | to clarify |
58 | clore | to close, to conclude |
59 | collectionner | to collect |
60 | combattre | to fight (alternate form) |
61 | colorier | to color |
62 | convenir | to agree, to suit |
63 | concevoir | to conceive, to design |
64 | correspondre | to correspond |
65 | cultiver | to cultivate |
66 | confire | to preserve, to confit |
67 | chasser | to hunt, to chase |
68 | cogner | to hit, to knock |
69 | commenter | to comment |
70 | commettre | to commit |
71 | commercialiser | to commercialize |
72 | comprendre | to include (alternate sense) |
73 | conclure | to conclude (regular form) |
74 | condamner | to condemn |
75 | conduire | to conduct (regular form) |
76 | confondre | to confound (alternate form) |
77 | conquérir | to conquer |
78 | consacrer | to dedicate, to consecrate |
79 | consentir | to consent |
80 | considérer | to consider |
81 | constater | to note, to observe |
82 | constituer | to constitute |
83 | consulter | to consult (alternate form) |
84 | consumer | to consume |
85 | contredire | to contradict |
86 | contredire | to contradict (regular form) |
87 | contribuer | to contribute (alternate form) |
88 | convoquer | to summon, to convene |
89 | coordonner | to coordinate |
90 | corriger | to correct (alternate form) |
91 | couvrir | to cover (alternate sense) |
92 | créditer | to credit |
93 | crever | to burst, to puncture |
94 | crier | to cry out (alternate form) |
95 | crocher | to hook, to pick (lock) |
96 | croiser | to cross, to meet |
97 | cueillir | to gather (alternate form) |
98 | cuire | to cook (alternate sense) |
99 | culpabiliser | to make feel guilty |
100 | cumuler | to accumulate |
101 | calibrer | to calibrate |
102 | canaliser | to channel |
103 | candidater | to apply (for a job) |
104 | capitaliser | to capitalize |
105 | captiver | to captivate |
106 | capturer | to capture |
107 | cataloguer | to catalog |
108 | catapulter | to catapult |
109 | catégoriser | to categorize |
110 | caresser | to caress |
111 | caricaturer | to caricature |
112 | carillonner | to chime, to ring |
113 | carrer | to square, to fit |
114 | cartographier | to map |
115 | cascader | to cascade |
116 | caser | to fit, to place |
117 | casser | to break |
118 | causer | to cause (alternate form) |
119 | caviarder | to censor, to redact |
120 | céder | to yield, to give up |
121 | ceindre | to encircle, to gird |
122 | centraliser | to centralize |
123 | centrer | to center |
124 | certifier | to certify |
125 | cesser | to cease (alternate form) |
126 | challenger | to challenge |
127 | chambrer | to tease, to warm (wine) |
128 | chanceler | to stagger, to waver |
129 | chaparder | to pilfer, to steal |
130 | chaperonner | to chaperone |
131 | charcuter | to butcher, to hack |
132 | charger | to load, to charge |
133 | charmer | to charm |
134 | charrier | to haul, to tease |
135 | chartériser | to standardize |
136 | chastiser | to chastise |
137 | châtier | to punish |
138 | chauffer | to heat, to warm |
139 | chausser | to put on (shoes), to fit |
140 | chevaucher | to straddle, to ride |
141 | chicaner | to quibble, to bicker |
142 | chiffonner | to crumple, to annoy |
143 | chiffrer | to encrypt, to estimate |
144 | chipoter | to nitpick, to fuss |
145 | choquer | to shock, to collide |
146 | chorégraphier | to choreograph |
147 | chouchouter | to pamper |
148 | chuter | to fall, to drop |
149 | cibler | to target |
150 | cicatriser | to heal, to scar |
151 | circoncire | to circumcise |
152 | circuler | to circulate |
153 | cirer | to polish, to wax |
154 | civiliser | to civilize |
155 | clamer | to proclaim, to shout |
156 | claquemurer | to wall up, to confine |
157 | claquer | to slam, to snap |
158 | classer | to classify, to file |
159 | clignoter | to blink, to flash |
160 | cliquer | to click |
161 | cliqueter | to clink, to rattle |
162 | cloisonner | to partition |
163 | cloner | to clone |
164 | clopiner | to limp |
165 | cloquer | to blister |
166 | coacher | to coach |
167 | coaguler | to coagulate |
168 | coaliser | to coalesce, to unite |
169 | coasser | to croak (like a frog) |
170 | côtoyer | to rub shoulders with |
171 | codifier | to codify |
172 | coexister | to coexist |
173 | coffrer | to lock up, to encase |
174 | cogiter | to think, to ponder |
175 | cohabiter | to cohabit |
176 | coiffer | to style (hair), to cap |
177 | coincer | to jam, to trap |
178 | collaborer | to collaborate (alternate form) |
179 | collationner | to collate |
180 | collecter | to collect |
181 | coloniser | to colonize |
182 | colorer | to color |
183 | combler | to fill, to fulfill |
184 | commander | to command (alternate form) |
185 | commémorer | to commemorate |
186 | commencer | to start (alternate form) |
187 | commenter | to comment (alternate form) |
188 | commercialiser | to market (alternate form) |
189 | commettre | to commit (alternate form) |
190 | commuter | to commute |
191 | compacter | to compact |
192 | compatir | to sympathize |
193 | compenser | to compensate |
194 | compiler | to compile |
195 | compléter | to complete (alternate form) |
196 | complexifier | to complicate |
197 | complimenter | to compliment |
198 | comploter | to plot, to conspire |
199 | comporter | to behave, to include |
200 | composer | to compose (alternate form) |
201 | composter | to compost, to punch (ticket) |
202 | compulser | to consult, to review |
203 | computer | to compute |
204 | concasser | to crush, to grind |
205 | concéder | to concede |
206 | concentrer | to concentrate |
207 | conceptualiser | to conceptualize |
208 | concerner | to concern |
209 | concerter | to plan, to coordinate |
210 | concilier | to reconcile |
211 | conclure | to conclude (alternate form) |
212 | concocter | to concoct |
213 | concourir | to compete |
214 | concurrencer | to compete with |
215 | condamner | to condemn (alternate form) |
216 | condenser | to condense |
217 | conditionner | to condition, to package |
218 | conduire | to drive (alternate form) |
219 | confectionner | to make, to prepare |
220 | conférer | to confer |
221 | confesser | to confess |
222 | confier | to entrust |
223 | configurer | to configure |
224 | confirmer | to confirm (alternate form) |
225 | confisquer | to confiscate |
226 | conflaguer | to blaze, to flare up |
227 | conformer | to conform |
228 | confronter | to confront |
229 | confuser | to confuse |
230 | congédier | to dismiss |
231 | congeler | to freeze |
232 | congratuler | to congratulate |
233 | conjoindre | to join, to combine |
234 | conjuguer | to conjugate |
235 | conjurer | to ward off, to conjure |
236 | connecter | to connect |
237 | connoter | to connote |
238 | conquérir | to conquer (alternate form) |
239 | conscientiser | to raise awareness |
240 | consacrer | to devote (alternate form) |
241 | conseiller | to advise |
242 | consentir | to consent (alternate form) |
243 | consigner | to record, to deposit |
244 | consoler | to console |
245 | consolider | to consolidate |
246 | conspirer | to conspire |
247 | constater | to observe (alternate form) |
248 | consteller | to stud, to sprinkle |
249 | constiper | to constipate |
250 | constituer | to constitute (alternate form) |
How to Use This List
- Prioritize High-Frequency Verbs: Start with commonly used verbs like comprendre, commencer, and connaître to build a strong foundation.
- Master Conjugations: Use our conjugation tool to practice these verbs across tenses (present, passé composé, future, etc.).
- Apply in Context: Incorporate these verbs into sentences, conversations, or writing exercises to reinforce learning.
- Focus on Irregular Verbs: Pay extra attention to verbs in red (e.g., conduire, croire, craindre), as they follow unique conjugation patterns.
Tips for Learning French Verbs
- Create Flashcards: Write the French verb on one side and its English meaning on the other for quick review.
- Practice Daily: Spend 10–15 minutes conjugating a handful of verbs from this list to build muscle memory.
- Engage with Media: Watch French films, listen to songs, or follow French creators on X to hear these verbs in action.
- Join Language Communities: Practice with native speakers or fellow learners through language exchange platforms or forums.
Conclusion
Mastering these 250 French verbs starting with “C” will take your language skills to the next level. From commencer to constituer, this list covers essential verbs for everyday communication. Save this page, download our full conjugation guide, and start practicing today! For more French learning resources, check out our vocabulary lists and grammar guides.
Bon courage et à bientôt!