raconter
to tell
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Présent
Présent
Current actions, habits, and general truths.
| je | raconte |
| tu | raconte |
| il/elle | raconte |
| nous | racontons |
| vous | racontez |
| ils/elles | raconte |
Je raconte une histoire à mes enfants.
I am telling a story to my children.
Elle raconte ses vacances à ses amis.
She is telling her vacation story to her friends.
2.Passé Composé
Passé Composé
Completed past actions with present relevance.
| je | ai raconté |
| tu | as raconté |
| il/elle | a raconté |
| nous | avons raconté |
| vous | avez raconté |
| ils/elles | ont raconté |
Nous avons raconté notre aventure hier.
We told our adventure yesterday.
Ils ont raconté une blague drôle.
They told a funny joke.
3.Imparfait
Imparfait
Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.
| je | racontais |
| tu | racontais |
| il/elle | racontait |
| nous | racontions |
| vous | racontiez |
| ils/elles | racontaient |
Quand j'étais jeune, je racontais des histoires à mes amis.
When I was young, I used to tell stories to my friends.
Elle racontait souvent des contes avant de dormir.
She often told tales before going to sleep.
4.Futur Simple
Futur Simple
Future events, promises, and formal predictions.
| je | raconterai |
| tu | raconteras |
| il/elle | racontera |
| nous | raconterons |
| vous | raconterez |
| ils/elles | raconteront |
Demain, je raconterai mon expérience au groupe.
Tomorrow, I will tell my experience to the group.
Ils raconteront l'histoire de leur voyage.
They will tell the story of their trip.
5.Conditionnel Présent
Conditionnel Présent
Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.
| je | raconterais |
| tu | raconterais |
| il/elle | raconterait |
| nous | raconterions |
| vous | raconteriez |
| ils/elles | raconteraient |
Je raconterais tout si j'avais le temps.
I would tell everything if I had the time.
Elle raconterait son secret à ses amis.
She would tell her secret to her friends.
6.Subjonctif Présent
Subjonctif Présent
Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.
| je | raconte |
| tu | raconte |
| il/elle | raconte |
| nous | racontions |
| vous | racontiez |
| ils/elles | racontent |
Il faut que je raconte ce que j'ai vu.
It is necessary that I tell what I saw.
Je souhaite qu'elle raconte son histoire.
I wish that she tells her story.
7.Plus-que-parfait
Plus-que-parfait
Actions completed before another past action.
| je | avais raconté |
| tu | avais raconté |
| il/elle | avait raconté |
| nous | avions raconté |
| vous | aviez raconté |
| ils/elles | avaient raconté |
Avant de partir, j'avais raconté tout ce qui s'était passé.
Before leaving, I had told everything that happened.
Ils avaient raconté leurs souvenirs d'enfance.
They had told their childhood memories.
"raconter" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "raconter" regular or irregular in French?
- "raconter" is a regular 1st verb in French. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for 1st verbs.
- How do you conjugate "raconter" in the present tense?
- In the Présent, "raconter" conjugates as: raconte, raconte, racontons, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "raconter" in French?
- In the Passé Composé, "raconter" conjugates as: ai raconté, as raconté, avons raconté, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "raconter" in French?
- "raconter" (to tell) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.