apprends

Apprends is the second-person singular present form of the French verb apprendre. In everyday usage it most often means “you learn,” as in tu apprends quelque chose or tu apprends à faire quelque chose. In certain constructions, however, apprendre can also mean “to teach” when used with a direct object or with an indirect object in phrases like apprendre quelque chose à quelqu’un (to teach someone something) or apprendre à quelqu’un à faire quelque chose.

Etymology and meaning: The verb apprendre comes from Old French and ultimately from Latin roots related to seizing or taking hold, with the sense evolving to acquiring knowledge or skills. The form apprends shares the same root as other present-tense conjugations of apprendre: j’apprends, tu apprends, il apprend, nous apprenons, vous apprenez, ils apprennent.

Usage and forms: Apprends is used with various complements to express learning or teaching. It is followed by a direct object when referring to what is learned (tu apprends le français) or by an infinitive to express learning to do something (tu apprends à parler). In the teaching sense, it can take a person as an indirect object: tu apprends le français à tes élèves. The pronunciation is [a.pʁɑ̃], with the nasal vowel in the final syllable.

Examples: Tu apprends vite. Elle apprend le piano. Nous apprenons ensemble. Vous apprenez à cuisiner. J’apprends le latin à mes étudiants, ou J’apprends le français à mes élèves.

Notes: Apprendre is an irregular verb in the present tense, and its other forms differ (j’apprends, il apprend, nous apprenons, ils apprennent). Its past participle is appris. Common idioms include apprendre par cœur (to learn by heart) and apprendre à quelqu’un à faire quelque chose.