ouvrent

Ouvrent is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb ouvrir, meaning to open. It is used when the subject is a plural noun or pronoun and can refer to opening physical objects such as doors, windows, or books, as in ils ouvrent la porte (they open the door) or ils ouvrent les magazines (they open the magazines).

Etymology and related forms: Ouvrir comes from Latin aperire, meaning to open. In French, the verb develops the present tense forms with the stem ouvr- and standard endings. The past participle of ouvrir is ouvert, which is used with the auxiliary avoir to form compound tenses (par exemple, ils ont ouvert). The noun ouverture (opening) and the adjective ouvert (open) are related derivatives.

Conjugation context: In the present tense, the full paradigm for ouvrir is j’ouvre, tu ouvres, il ouvre, nous ouvrons, vous ouvrez, ils ouvrent. The form ouvrent specifically marks a plural subject performing the act of opening. Ouvrir is a transitive verb, typically requiring a direct object (open something), but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions and extended phrases such as ouvrir la voie (to open the way) or ouvrir une discussion (to open a discussion).

Usage notes: Beyond physical openings, ouvrir is widely used in metaphorical senses, administrative or figurative openings, and in expressions related to opportunities and accessibility. The word ouvrent appears in written and spoken French in everyday contexts, from instructional text to news reporting and literature.

See also: ouvrir; ouvert; ouverture; ouverture d’esprit.