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French Level 3 verb

suivre

/sɥivʁ/

Definition

To follow someone or something, or to keep up with a subject or situation.

Example

Suis ce chemin et tu arriveras au village.

Show translation

Follow this path and you will reach the village.

Etymology

From Latin *sequī* ("to follow"), via Old French *sivre/suivre*. The same Latin root gives English "sequence," "sequel," and "suit" (as in a set of things that follow together).

Cultural note

*Suivre* has a rich range of everyday uses in French: you follow a person (*suis-moi !* — "follow me!"), follow the news (*suivre l'actualité*), follow a course (*suivre des cours*), or even follow a diet (*suivre un régime*). The phrase *comme suit* ("as follows") is a common formal written marker. Be careful not to confuse *suivre* with *être* in the first-person singular: *je suis* can mean either "I am" (être) or "I follow" (suivre) — context always disambiguates.

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