aiment

Aiment is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb aimer. It means “they love” or “they like,” and is used when the subject is ils or elles and the object is what is loved or liked.

Aimer is a regular -er verb. Its present tense forms are: j'aime, tu aimes, il/elle aime, nous aimons, vous aimez, ils/elles aiment. The form aime for the third person singular and aime for the first person singular share the same stem as aime in other forms, reflecting the regular conjugation pattern of -er verbs.

Etymology and usage: Aimer comes from Old French aimer, derived from Latin amare; it is related to the word amour (love). The verb covers romantic love, familial affection, and simple liking, with nuance shaped by context. Phrases like aimer bien indicate a milder or more casual liking, while aimer strongly can express affection or passion. Aimer can also appear in expressions of preference, such as aimer quelque chose ou quelqu'un.

Examples: Ils aiment la musique. Elles aiment bien les romans. Je t'aime. Aiment-ils le film? N'aiment-ils pas les sports? These illustrate how the form fits various persons and tenses in ordinary speech.

Notes: As a core verb, aimer is among the most commonly used in French and appears in everyday conversation, literature, and media. Its present tense form, comme d'autres verbes en -er, follows a predictable pattern that helps learners build broader conjugation skills.