Kilo Lingo

/vɔle/

Line drawing of voler
Coloured illustration of voler
#386 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

to fly; to steal

Word origin

From Latin volare ('to fly'). The sense 'to steal' developed later from hunting terminology, where the verb described a hawk swooping on its prey; the same root gives English 'volatile'.

Origin
Latin
Root
volare
English cognates
volatile

Grammar

Verb type-er regular (1st group)

Conjugation

Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.

Indicative

Person PresentImperfectPast historicFutureConditional
jevolevolaisvolaivoleraivolerais
tuvolesvolaisvolasvolerasvolerais
il/ellevolevolaitvolavoleravolerait
nousvolonsvolionsvolâmesvoleronsvolerions
vousvolezvoliezvolâtesvolerezvoleriez
ils/ellesvolentvolaientvolèrentvolerontvoleraient

Subjunctive

Person PresentImperfect
jevolevolasse
tuvolesvolasses
il/ellevolevolât
nousvolionsvolassions
vousvoliezvolassiez
ils/ellesvolentvolassent

Imperative

Person Affirmative
tuvole
nousvolons
vousvolez

Non-finite

Gerund / present participle
volant
Past participle
volé · volée · volés · volées

Examples

.

Birds fly south in winter.

' .

Someone stole my wallet on the underground.

'.

Time flies when you're having fun.

Cet au- .

This plane has been flying above the clouds for an hour.

au .

The thief stole a handbag at the market.

Where this fits

Used in

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French · Free printables

voler: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "voler" (to fly; to steal): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 8.