A Frequency Dictionary of French (2009)

The following list illustrates how some verbs interact with "se" and its variant "s'". It shows how frequently verbs from the top 5,000 words of this dictionary pattern with this pronoun. The number 7

after each verb shows that verb's ranking in the dictionary, and the number before the verb shows what percentage of that verb's occurrences involve the pronoun. Because some verb instances involve other persons besides the third person, the total percentage of occurrences for all persons for these verbs is likely around 20% higher than the number shown here.

0.99 ensuivre 4958 to result

0.92 emparer 2788 to snatch away

0.88 dérouler 1438 to unwind

0.88 écrier 4880 to cry out

0.86 apprêter 3135 to prepare

0.83 avérer 2462 to prove to be

0.81 effondrer 3134 to collapse

0.8 envoler 4081 to fly away

0.75 efforcer 2044 to strive

0.73 conformer 3391 to conform

0.72 contenter 1079 to be content

0.72 enfuir 3813 to flee

0.71 soucier 2828 to worry

0.70 agir 212 to pertain

0.68 abstenir 3703 to abstain

0.65 empresser 4943 to hasten

0.64 borner 4586 to limit

0.64 épanouir 4735 to blossom

0.62 replier 4267 to fold up

0.61 moquer 3344 to make fun of

0.61 pencher 1798 to lean

0.59 propager 3876 to propagate

0.58 plaindre 1372 to complain

0.56 heurter 2606 to collide

0.55 redresser 3378 to straighten

0.54 référer 3276 to refer

0.52 débrouiller 3628 to get by

0.52 incliner 4380 to tilt

0.51 dégrader 4152 to degrade

0.49 acquitter 3233 to discharge

4153 poudre nf powder

* ta copine a besoin de sa poudre magique -- your girlfriend needs her magic powder

75 | 184

4154 teneur nf content

* il n'a révélé la teneur exacte de sa conversation -- he didn't reveal the exact content of his conversation

75 | 185

4155 inverser v to reverse, invert

* l'infirmière s'est trompée. elle a tout inversé -- the nurse was wrong. she got everything backwards

74 | 196

4156 naval adj naval

* les chantiers navals fonctionnaient à plein rendement -- the naval shipyards were operating at full capacity

66 | 274

675

4157 dérive nf drift

* j'imagine mal cependant des dérives extrémistes -- I have a hard time imagining extremist tendencies

73 | 206

4158 mécontent nadj discontented, dissatisfied, displeased

* je regrette que vous soyez mécontent mais je ne puis rien y faire -- I'm sorry you're displeased but I can no longer do anything about it

79 | 150

4159 vocabulaire nm vocabulary

* ce n'est pas dans mon vocabulaire -- it's not in my vocabulary

71 | 219

4160 stabiliser v to stabilize

* stabilisez vos déflecteurs arrière -- tighten your rear deflectors

72 | 212

4161 délégué nadj delegate

* les délégués de 190 pays se sont retrouvés samedi -- delegates from 190 countries met Saturday

63 | 301

4162 centrer v to center

* je centrerai mon intervention sur quatre points précis -- I will center my talk on four specific points

74 | 198

Page 171

4163 algérien nadj Algerian

* je ne suis ni français ni algérien -- I'm neither French nor Algerian

56 | 376

4164 sympathique nadj(f) likeable, nice, pleasant

* je vous trouve incroyablement sympathiques -- I find you incredibly likable

72 | 214

4165 alentour adv around, round about

* il n'y avait personne aux alentours immédiats -- there was nobody in the immediate vicinity 73 | 200

4166 corrompre v to corrupt, bribe

* le régime actuel me semble absolument corrompu -- the current regime seems absolutely corrupt to me

77 | 169

4167 commerçant nadj shopkeeper, merchant, commercial

* c'était plein de petits commerçants, d'artisans -- it was full of shopkeepers, artisans 71 | 227

5768

4168 poitrine nf chest, breast, breasts, bosom

* ils avaient mal dans la poitrine, aux oreilles et à la tête -- they had sore chests, ears, and heads 55 | 396+l -n -s

4169 couronner v to crown, award

* ces rencontres ont vraiment été couronnées de succès -- these meetings were crowned with success

76 | 174

4170 relire v to reread, proofread

* il relisait, corrigeait et reprenait le travail du jour -- he reread, corrected, and reviewed the day's work

63 | 303-n

4171 perpétuer v to perpetuate, carry on

* ces traditions se perpétuent au Moyen Âge -- these traditions continue through in the Middle Ages

76 | 176

4172 doctrine nf doctrine

* il a enseigné des doctrines trompeuses et répugnantes -- he taught deceitful and loathsome doctrine

62 | 306-s

4173 compétitif adj competitive

* l'industrie automobile européenne peut être compétitive -- the European auto industry can be competitive

69 | 241

4174 majesté nf majesty

* sa majesté le roi a été salué à son départ -- his majesty the king was saluted on his departure 56 | 377-n +s

4175 mouton nadj sheep