ouvre

Ouvre is a form of the French verb ouvrir, meaning to open. It can function as the third-person singular present indicative, as in il ouvre (he opens) or on ouvre (we/one opens), and as the second-person singular imperative, as in ouvre la porte (open the door). In written French, the first-person singular present is j’ouvre (I open), and the second-person singular present indicative is tu ouvres (you open).

Etymology and form. Ouvrir comes from Old French ouvrir and ultimately from Latin aperire, meaning to uncover or expose. The form ouvre carries the consonant and vowel pattern common to the -ir verbs in its conjugation and is used with subjects that require the third-person singular form.

Grammar notes. Ouvre agrees with third-person singular subjects and with on, which often takes the same form. The imperative use of ouvre is directed at someone familiar, with negative commands formed as N’ouvre pas. Other related forms include j’ouvre, tu ouvres, nous ouvrons, vous ouvrez, which share the same root but differ by person and number.

Usage and examples. The word is most commonly used to describe the act of opening something, such as a door, window, book, or file. Examples: Il ouvre la porte. Ouvre la fenêtre. J’ouvre le colis devant vous. In everyday French, ouvrir appears in various tenses and moods, with ouvre serving specifically the present indicative third-person form or the imperative for tu.

See also. ouvrir, ouverture, ouvrier, ouverts. The term is primarily a grammatical form rather than a standalone noun in standard French, though related words in the same etymological family pertain to opening or uncovering.