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A2 verb #1,500 most common 5 min read

grandir

Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips grandir in 30 Seconds

Explanation grandir in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners use 'grandir' in its most literal sense: physical growth. You will mostly use it to talk about children or yourself in the past. It's important to learn the basic present tense: 'Je grandis'. At this stage, don't worry about complex metaphorical uses. Focus on the idea of getting taller. You might say 'Mon fils grandit' (My son is growing). You should also recognize the past participle 'grandi' to say 'J'ai grandi' (I grew). This is a great verb to practice the regular -ir conjugation pattern, which is one of the three main verb groups in French. Understanding that 'grandir' means 'to get big' helps connect it to the adjective 'grand' (big/tall), making it easier to remember. You will often hear it in simple stories or when people talk about their families. It's a 'doing' word that shows a change in state, which is a key concept at the beginner level. Practice saying it with 'vite' (fast) because that's how children usually grow! Even at A1, knowing this verb allows you to describe the world around you in a dynamic way, moving beyond static descriptions like 'Il est grand'.

At the A2 level, you start to use 'grandir' to describe your background and upbringing. The phrase 'J'ai grandi à...' (I grew up in...) becomes a staple of your introductory conversations. You also begin to use it for cities and towns expanding. You should be comfortable with the 'nous' and 'vous' forms, noticing the '-iss-' sound: 'Nous grandissons'. This level also introduces the idea of 'grandir' as maturing. You might hear someone say 'Il doit grandir' (He needs to grow up/act more mature). You are expected to distinguish 'grandir' from 'pousser' (for plants) and 'grossir' (to get fat). You can now use it in the future tense ('Il grandira') and the imperfect ('Il grandissait'). This verb is essential for the A2 'Life and Background' theme. You will also encounter it in simple news reports about urban development. It's a bridge between talking about physical things and talking about life experiences. By now, you should realize that 'grandir' is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't usually take a direct object. You don't 'grandir' something; you just 'grandir' yourself or something 'grandit' on its own.

At the B1 level, you move into the metaphorical and abstract uses of 'grandir'. You can discuss how a company grows, how a problem increases, or how a feeling develops. You use 'grandir' to describe personal development and the challenges of adolescence. You should be able to use it in the subjunctive ('Il faut que tu grandisses') and the conditional ('Il grandirait plus vite s'il mangeait mieux'). You also start to see 'grandir' in idiomatic expressions like 'grandir dans l'estime de quelqu'un' (to grow in someone's esteem). You can compare 'grandir' with its more formal synonym 'croître' and understand why a novelist might choose one over the other. At B1, you are expected to handle the reflexive form 's'agrandir' when talking about a house or a territory expanding. You can also use 'grandir' to describe the effect of clothing or patterns ('Les rayures te grandissent'). This level requires a more nuanced understanding of how 'grandir' interacts with other verbs of change like 'évoluer' or 'se développer'. You are no longer just talking about height; you are talking about the expansion of ideas, influence, and complexity.

At the B2 level, 'grandir' is used with precision in argumentative and descriptive contexts. You can discuss socio-economic growth with sophistication, using 'grandir' to describe the expansion of social movements or the growing gap between social classes. You understand the subtle difference between 'faire grandir' (to make something/someone grow/develop) and 'grandir' itself. You can analyze literature where 'grandir' represents the loss of childhood innocence or the acquisition of wisdom. You are comfortable with all tenses, including the 'passé simple' in written texts ('Il grandit' - he grew). You can use 'grandir' to describe the intensification of abstract nouns like 'le mécontentement' (dissatisfaction) or 'l'angoisse' (anxiety). At this level, you recognize that 'grandir' can imply a qualitative improvement, not just a quantitative one. You can use it in professional settings to talk about 'grandir au sein de l'entreprise' (growing within the company). Your use of the verb is fluid, and you can switch between literal and figurative meanings without hesitation. You also understand how 'grandir' fits into the broader word family, including 'grandissement' (magnification) and 'agrandissement' (enlargement).

At the C1 level, you use 'grandir' to express complex, nuanced ideas about evolution and aggrandizement. You can use the verb in its rare transitive sense to mean 'to make someone appear greater or more noble' ('Cette action le grandit'). You appreciate the stylistic impact of using 'grandir' in rhetorical devices. You can discuss the philosophical implications of 'grandir' in the context of 'le passage à l'âge adulte' (the transition to adulthood) in various cultures. You understand the historical etymology from the Latin 'grandire' and how it has diverged from 'croître'. You can use 'grandir' to describe the magnification of images in optics or the expansion of the universe in a scientific context. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use 'grandir' as a pivot point for discussing maturation, expansionism, and personal growth in high-level academic or professional discourse. You are sensitive to the register of the verb, knowing when it sounds poetic versus when it sounds technical. You can also identify and use rare derivatives and related terms with ease, integrating 'grandir' into a sophisticated linguistic repertoire that allows for precise expression of growth in all its forms.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'grandir' and its place in the French language. You can use it to discuss the most subtle shifts in meaning, such as the difference between physical growth and the 'grandeur' of a character. You can analyze classical French literature (like Racine or Molière) where 'grandir' might be used in archaic or highly stylized ways. You can produce texts that use 'grandir' to weave complex metaphors about the human condition, the expansion of empires, or the development of philosophical systems. You understand every nuance of its conjugation, including the most obscure literary tenses. You can use 'grandir' to critique art, discussing how a certain technique 'grandit' the subject. You are capable of using the verb in legal, scientific, and poetic contexts with equal facility. For you, 'grandir' is not just a verb; it's a tool for precise conceptual mapping. You can engage in deep debates about the nature of growth—be it economic, personal, or biological—using 'grandir' as a central term. Your command is such that you can play with the word, using it in puns or sophisticated wordplay that relies on its multiple layers of meaning.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

grandir in 30 Seconds

Grandir means to grow in height or maturity.
It is a regular -ir verb (like finir).
Use it for people, cities, and abstract things.
Do not use it for plants (use 'pousser' instead).

The French verb grandir is a fundamental second-group verb (ending in -ir) that primarily describes the process of increasing in physical size, maturing from childhood to adulthood, or expanding in a metaphorical sense. At its core, it captures the essence of development. Unlike the English 'to grow', which can sometimes be used transitively (e.g., 'to grow vegetables'), grandir is almost exclusively intransitive when referring to biological growth. If you want to say you are growing tomatoes, you would use faire pousser.

Physical Growth: Refers to children getting taller or animals reaching maturity. It is the literal increase in height or volume.

Les enfants grandissent si vite de nos jours.

Maturation: The psychological and social process of 'growing up' or becoming an adult.

Il a dû grandir très tôt pour aider sa famille.

Abstract Expansion: Used for cities, reputations, or problems that become larger or more significant.

Sa renommée ne cesse de grandir à travers le monde.

La ville a beaucoup grandi ces dix dernières années.

L'espoir de paix continue de grandir malgré les tensions.

Using grandir correctly requires understanding its conjugation and its typical subjects. As a regular -ir verb, it is predictable, which is a relief for learners. However, the nuance lies in whether you are talking about a physical change or a metaphorical one. In the passé composé, it almost always takes avoir as an auxiliary (J'ai grandi), although you might occasionally see être in older literature or very specific contexts of state, but avoir is the modern standard.

Conjugation Pattern: Je grandis, tu grandis, il grandit, nous grandissons, vous grandissez, ils grandissent. The 'iss' is key for all plural forms.

Nous grandissons ensemble dans ce quartier.

With Adverbs: Commonly paired with 'vite' (fast), 'trop' (too much), or 'bien' (well).

Tu as grandi trop vite !

Transitive Use (Rare/Specific): In some cases, 'grandir' can mean 'to make someone look taller' or 'to aggrandize'.

Ces rayures verticales te grandissent.

Il veut grandir son influence politique.

L'entreprise doit grandir pour survivre.

You will encounter grandir in a variety of everyday and professional contexts. In family settings, it's the most common word to discuss children's progress. In business, it refers to market growth or company scaling. In literature, it often takes on a philosophical tone regarding personal evolution and the loss of innocence. It's a word that bridges the gap between the biological and the existential.

Family Reunions: Grandparents often exclaim how much a child has grown.

Comme tu as grandi depuis l'été dernier !

Economic News: Discussing the growth of a startup or the economy.

Le marché du numérique continue de grandir.

Urban Planning: When talking about cities expanding into suburbs.

La périphérie ne fait que grandir.

Il a grandi dans une petite ferme en Normandie.

Le doute commence à grandir dans son esprit.

Even advanced learners can stumble when using grandir. The most frequent error is using it for plants. In English, we 'grow' flowers, but in French, flowers 'poussent'. Another mistake is confusing grandir with augmenter. While both mean to increase, augmenter is usually for numbers, prices, or quantities, whereas grandir is for physical size or maturity. Finally, the conjugation of the plural forms (the -iss- infix) is often forgotten by beginners.

The Plant Trap: Don't say 'Les fleurs grandissent'. Say 'Les fleurs poussent'.

Incorrect: J'ai grandi des tomates. Correct: J'ai fait pousser des tomates.

The Price Trap: Prices 'augmentent', they don't 'grandissent'.

Incorrect: Le prix de l'essence grandit. Correct: Le prix de l'essence augmente.

Conjugation Error: Forgetting the '-iss-' in 'ils grandissent'.

Incorrect: Ils grandient. Correct: Ils grandissent.

Il ne faut pas grandir trop vite, profite de ton enfance.

L'enfant grandit à vue d'œil.

French has several verbs for 'growing' or 'increasing', and choosing the right one is vital for sounding natural. While grandir is the most versatile for people and cities, other verbs handle specific types of growth. Understanding these nuances will help you move from A2 to B1 and beyond.

Grandir vs. Pousser: Grandir is for people/cities; Pousser is for plants/hair/teeth.

Mes cheveux poussent vite, mais mon fils grandit encore plus vite.

Grandir vs. Augmenter: Grandir is for size/stature; Augmenter is for quantities/prices/intensity.

Le bruit augmente dans la rue.

Grandir vs. Grossir: Grandir is taller; Grossir is wider or fatter.

La foule grossit à l'entrée du stade.

Le projet a grandi pour devenir une multinationale.

Il faut grandir un peu et prendre ses responsabilités.

How Formal Is It?

Pronunciation Guide

Rhymes With

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Regular -ir verb conjugation

Passé composé with avoir

Gérondif formation

Adverb placement with verbs

Causative 'faire' + infinitive

Examples by Level

Je grandis chaque jour.

I am growing every day.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Mon petit frère grandit vite.

My little brother is growing fast.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Est-ce que tu grandis encore ?

Are you still growing?

Interrogative form.

Les enfants grandissent.

The children are growing.

Present tense, 3rd person plural with -iss-.

J'ai grandi en France.

I grew up in France.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Elle a beaucoup grandi.

She has grown a lot.

Use of 'beaucoup' as an adverb.

Nous grandissons ensemble.

We are growing up together.

1st person plural.

Le chat ne grandit plus.

The cat isn't growing anymore.

Negative form 'ne... plus'.

Il a grandi dans un petit village.

He grew up in a small village.

Context of upbringing.

La ville grandit d'année en année.

The city grows from year to year.

Metaphorical growth of a city.

Tu vas grandir et devenir fort.

You are going to grow up and become strong.

Futur proche (aller + infinitive).

En grandissant, j'ai appris le piano.

While growing up, I learned the piano.

Gérondif (en + participle).

Elle veut grandir plus vite.

She wants to grow up faster.

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

Ils ont grandi sans télévision.

They grew up without television.

Passé composé with preposition 'sans'.

Le chiot grandit à vue d'œil.

The puppy is growing visibly.

Idiom 'à vue d'œil'.

On grandit tous les jours.

We grow every day.

Use of 'on' as a general subject.

L'entreprise a grandi malgré la crise.

The company grew despite the crisis.

Business context.

Il faut grandir et assumer ses actes.

One must grow up and take responsibility for one's actions.

Metaphorical use for maturity.

Sa passion pour l'art n'a cessé de grandir.

His passion for art never stopped growing.

Growth of an abstract feeling.

La maison s'est agrandie avec une nouvelle pièce.

The house was enlarged with a new room.

Reflexive 's'agrandir' for physical space.

Le fossé grandit entre les riches et les pauvres.

The gap is growing between the rich and the poor.

Social/Political context.

Elle a grandi en sagesse au fil des ans.

She grew in wisdom over the years.

Abstract growth.

Le projet grandit de jour en jour.

The project is growing day by day.

Project management context.

Il a grandi dans l'ombre de son frère.

He grew up in his brother's shadow.

Idiomatic expression 'dans l'ombre de'.

Le mécontentement grandit parmi les employés.

Dissatisfaction is growing among the employees.

Abstract noun as subject.

Cette expérience l'a fait grandir.

This experience made him grow/mature.

Causative construction 'faire + infinitive'.

La menace continue de grandir.

The threat continues to grow.

Abstract threat.

Il a grandi au sein d'une famille d'artistes.

He grew up within a family of artists.

Formal preposition 'au sein de'.

Sa réputation a grandi après ce succès.

His reputation grew after this success.

Growth of reputation.

Le besoin de changement grandit dans la société.

The need for change is growing in society.

Societal context.

Elle a grandi avec des valeurs fortes.

She grew up with strong values.

Moral context.

Le silence grandissait dans la salle.

The silence was growing in the room.

Imperfect tense for atmosphere.

Le doute ne faisait que grandir dans son esprit tourmenté.

Doubt only continued to grow in his tormented mind.

Literary style 'ne faire que'.

Cette épreuve a grandi son âme.

This ordeal ennobled his soul.

Transitive use meaning 'to ennoble'.

L'influence de ce philosophe grandit à titre posthume.

The influence of this philosopher grew posthumously.

Academic context.

Le sentiment d'injustice grandit face à l'inaction.

The feeling of injustice grows in the face of inaction.

Abstract noun with complex preposition.

Il a grandi en stature politique au cours du mandat.

He grew in political stature during the term.

Metaphorical 'stature'.

La complexité du problème ne cesse de grandir.

The complexity of the problem never stops growing.

Formal 'ne cesse de'.

Elle a grandi dans le respect des traditions séculaires.

She grew up respecting centuries-old traditions.

High-level vocabulary 'séculaires'.

L'écart de richesse grandit de manière exponentielle.

The wealth gap is growing exponentially.

Mathematical adverb.

L'œuvre de Proust grandit à chaque relecture.

Proust's work grows with every re-reading.

Literary criticism context.

Il s'agit de grandir l'homme par l'éducation.

It is about elevating man through education.

Philosophical transitive use.

Le malaise grandissant finit par éclater au grand jour.

The growing unease finally came to light.

Present participle as adjective.

Sa figure historique ne fait que grandir avec le recul.

His historical figure only grows with hindsight.

Abstract historical perspective.

Le vide laissé par son absence grandit chaque jour.

The void left by his absence grows every day.

Poetic/Emotional context.

L'ambition démesurée le fit grandir avant de le perdre.

Inordinate ambition made him rise before it ruined him.

Tragic literary theme.

La ville, tentaculaire, ne cessait de grandir vers l'horizon.

The sprawling city never stopped growing toward the horizon.

Evocative adjective 'tentaculaire'.

Grandir, c'est accepter la fin des certitudes.

To grow up is to accept the end of certainties.

Philosophical definition.

Common Collocations

grandir vite

grandir ensemble

faire grandir

continuer de grandir

grandir en sagesse

grandir en taille

grandir trop tôt

laisser grandir

voir grandir

aider à grandir

Common Phrases

J'ai grandi à...

En grandissant...

Il a bien grandi !

Grandir à vue d'œil

Vouloir grandir trop vite

Grandir dans l'ombre de

Faire grandir un projet

Grandir en expérience

Ne pas voir le temps passer et les enfants grandir

Grandir au contact des autres

Often Confused With

grandir vs pousser

grandir vs grossir

grandir vs augmenter

Idioms & Expressions

"Grandir à vue d'œil (To grow visibly/very fast)"

"Grandir dans l'estime de quelqu'un (To rise in someone's estimation)"

"Se croire sorti de la cuisse de Jupiter (Not 'grandir' but related to self-importance)"

"Prendre de la bouteille (To grow older/wiser - informal)"

"Prendre du galon (To rise in rank/importance)"

"Pousser comme des champignons (To grow like mushrooms - very fast)"

"Avoir les dents qui rayent le parquet (To be very ambitious/wanting to grow fast)"

"Être une grande asperge (To be a tall, thin person who grew a lot)"

"Manger de la soupe pour grandir (To eat soup to grow tall - common myth for kids)"

"C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron (Related to growing through practice)"

Easily Confused

grandir vs pousser

Used for plants, hair, and teeth.

grandir vs grossir

Used for getting wider or fatter.

grandir vs augmenter

Used for prices, numbers, and intensity.

grandir vs croître

More formal/scientific synonym.

grandir vs élever

To raise (children/animals), not to grow yourself.

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

reflexive

'S'agrandir' is used for physical spaces like houses or territories.

transitive

Rarely used transitively to mean 'to make taller' or 'to ennoble'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'grandir' for plants (use 'pousser').
Forgetting the '-iss-' in plural conjugations.
Using 'être' as the auxiliary in passé composé.
Confusing 'grandir' with 'grossir' (getting fat).
Using 'grandir' for prices (use 'augmenter').

Tips

The -iss- Rule

Always remember the '-iss-' sound in the plural: nous grandissons, vous grandissez, ils grandissent. This is the hallmark of second-group verbs.

Plants vs. People

Never use 'grandir' for your garden. Use 'pousser' for anything that comes out of the ground.

Cities Grow Too

You can use 'grandir' to describe urban sprawl. 'La ville grandit' is a very common and natural expression.

Childhood Stories

When telling stories about your childhood, 'J'ai grandi' is your best friend. It sets the scene perfectly.

Maturity Matters

In France, 'grandir' is often used to tell someone to act more maturely: 'Il est temps de grandir !'

Abstract Growth

Use 'grandir' for abstract nouns like 'le doute' (doubt) or 'l'espoir' (hope) to add a literary touch to your writing.

Nasal 'an'

Make sure the first syllable 'gran' is nasal. Don't pronounce the 'n' like in the English word 'grand'.

Mushrooms

If something grows very fast, use the idiom 'pousser comme des champignons', even if 'grandir' is the base verb you're thinking of.

Grandir vs Grossir

Remember: 'Grandir' is for height (vertical), 'Grossir' is for weight/volume (horizontal).

Career Growth

In a job interview, you can say you want to 'grandir professionnellement' within the company.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Latin

Cultural Context

Telling children to eat soup or spinach to grow.

Marking height on a 'toise' (measuring stick).

The theme of 'le passage à l'âge adulte'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Où as-tu grandi ?"

"Est-ce que tu penses que les enfants grandissent trop vite aujourd'hui ?"

"Comment ton entreprise a-t-elle grandi ?"

"Dans quel quartier as-tu grandi ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui t'a fait le plus grandir dans la vie ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez l'endroit où vous avez grandi.

Racontez un moment où vous avez senti que vous deviez grandir.

Comment votre ville a-t-elle grandi ces dernières années ?

Quelles sont les valeurs avec lesquelles vous avez grandi ?

Est-ce que grandir signifie perdre son innocence ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should use 'pousser' for flowers and plants. 'Grandir' is reserved for people, animals, cities, and abstract concepts. Using 'grandir' for plants sounds unnatural to native speakers.

In modern French, 'grandir' is almost always conjugated with 'avoir' in the passé composé (e.g., J'ai grandi). While you might see 'être' in very old texts to describe a state, 'avoir' is the standard.

'Grandir' is used for living beings or abstract things getting larger. 'S'agrandir' is reflexive and is specifically used for physical spaces, like a house being extended or a shop expanding its floor space.

The verb 'grandir' itself means 'to grow up'. For example, 'J'ai grandi à Paris' means 'I grew up in Paris'. You don't need an extra word for 'up'.

Yes, it is a regular second-group verb ending in -ir. It follows the same pattern as 'finir', including the '-iss-' infix in the plural forms (nous grandissons, ils grandissent).

No, for prices or quantities, you should use 'augmenter' or 'monter'. 'Grandir' refers to physical stature or metaphorical maturity/importance.

'Faire grandir' means 'to make someone or something grow'. It is often used metaphorically, such as 'Cette expérience m'a fait grandir' (This experience made me grow/mature).

No, for hair and nails, use 'pousser'. For example, 'Mes cheveux poussent vite' (My hair grows fast).

The literal opposite is 'rétrécir' (to shrink). Metaphorically, you might use 'décroître' (to decrease) or 'diminuer'.

Yes, it is common to say 'L'entreprise grandit' to mean the company is expanding or scaling up.