peux

Peux is the present tense form of the French verb pouvoir used for the first and second person singular. It expresses ability or possibility in the present and can also be used to request permission in informal speech. The full present tense forms are je peux, tu peux, il peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils peuvent.

Phonetically, peux is pronounced with a single syllable, roughly like [pø], rhyming with words such as feu and eux. The spelling contrasts with other forms of the same verb, such as peut (third person singular) or pouvons (first person plural), which helps distinguish subjects in written French.

Usage and construction

In affirmative statements, je peux venir means “I can come.” In questions or requests, forms like peux-tu venir? or puis-je vous aider? are common; the latter is a more formal or polite way to ask for permission. The negative form is je ne peux pas, meaning “I cannot” or “I’m not able to.” French also uses pouvoir in various subordinate clauses, for example: Si tu peux, viens demain (“If you can, come tomorrow”). The verb is irregular, so its present tense does not follow a single pattern.

Etymology

The verb pouvoir derives from Old French and Latin roots related to power and ability, ultimately tracing back to a Proto-Romance form related to the Latin posse. Through centuries, it evolved into the modern French pouvoir, with peux as the contemporary first- and second-person singular present form.

See also

Pouvoir, conjugation, French verb tenses, French usage of pouvoir for permission and ability.