Résiste

Résiste is a common form of the French verb résister, meaning to resist or withstand. In usage, résiste can be the third-person singular present indicative (il résiste) or the second-person singular imperative (résiste!), the latter used to issue a command. The verb’s infinitive is résister.

Etymology and forms: résister comes from Latin resistere, formed from re- “back, again” and sistere “to stand.” Its conjugation follows the regular -re verb pattern in French. Present tense forms include je résiste, tu résistes, il résiste, nous résistons, vous résistez, ils résistent. The past tense forms include j’ai résisté and il a résisté, among others, with imperfect résis tais, présent participle résistant, and related derivatives.

Usage: résister can describe physical or moral endurance, opposition to pressure, or persistence in adverse conditions. Examples include “Il résiste à la tentation,” “Ils résistent à la pression,” and “Nous résisterons ensemble.” The verb is versatile in formal and informal registers and appears in political, social, and personal contexts.

Cultural references: A notable cultural reference is the title song “Résiste,” performed by France Gall and written by Michel Berger. Released in the early 1980s, it became one of Gall’s best‑known hits and is frequently cited in discussions of French pop music of the period. The phrase “résiste” has since entered broader usage as a short, emblematic exhortation to endure or oppose oppression.