préfère

Préférer is a French verb meaning to prefer. Préfère is a present-tense form of this verb and appears in several common conjugations, notably il/elle préfère and je préfère. The verb is irregular in its present tense stem, but follows the overall -er verb pattern in its endings.

Etymology and meaning

Préférer comes from Latin praeferre, meaning to carry before or to set before. In French, it expresses preference between things, actions, or options. It is used with infinitives to compare two activities or with a noun to compare two items or choices.

Conjugation (present tense)

- Je préfère

- Tu préfères

- Il/elle préfère

- Nous préférons

- Vous préférez

- Ils/elles préfèrent

In the singular forms je, tu, and il/elle the stem change is reflected in the vowel of the first syllable, giving préfèr- forms in writing, with the accents marking the correct pronunciation.

Usage

Préférer is used to state a preference or a favored option. Examples: Je préfère le thé au café. Elle préfère rester chez elle. Ils préfèrent voyager en train plutôt qu’en avion. Préférer is also used with an infinitive to compare actions: Je préfère lire que regarder la télévision. For negation, use ne… pas: Je ne préfère pas y aller.

Related forms and synonyms

The verb often appears with ligatures like préférer à: préférer faire qch à faire qch. A common synonym expresses a similar idea: aimer mieux. The noun form préférence relates to the concept of a liking or priority.

See also

Préférence, préférentiel, and other forms built from préférer. The verb is a staple of everyday French and is widely used in both spoken and written language.