Le verbe avoir
The essential irregular verb avoir ("to have") — used for possession, age, and many set expressions.
The rule
Avoir ("to have") is the second essential irregular verb in French, used for possession, age, and many common expressions.
Its present-tense forms are: j'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont.
French uses avoir in many expressions where English uses "to be" — avoir faim (to be hungry), avoir soif (to be thirsty), avoir peur (to be afraid), avoir raison (to be right), and avoir ... ans (to be ... years old). Avoir is also the auxiliary verb for forming the passé composé of most French verbs.
Examples
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J'ai une voiture.I have a car.
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Tu as raison.You are right.
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Elle a trois enfants.She has three children.
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Nous avons faim.We are hungry.
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Vous avez de la chance.You are lucky.
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Ils ont peur du chien.They are afraid of the dog.
Common mistakes
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Je suis faim.J'ai faim.
Hunger, like many physical states, uses avoir — not être.
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Il a 10 ans vieux.Il a 10 ans.
"Avoir X ans" already means "to be X years old" — don't add "vieux" (old).
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Elle ont raison.Elle a raison.
"Ont" is for ils/elles, not for a single "elle" — check subject-verb agreement carefully.
