C2 French verbs: 300 essentials

What to do with verbs at C2

The list is cumulative: these 300 verbs include the foundations from every earlier level. At C2, aim to produce the common forms in context, not merely recognize each infinitive.

• Select verbs for nuance, tone, and idiomatic precision.
• Understand rare literary forms without forcing them into everyday speech.
• Move effortlessly between informal, formal, academic, and literary French.

Tense focus

passé antérieur · subjonctif imparfait · subjonctif plus-que-parfait · the complete tense system. Earlier-level tenses remain active and should become progressively more automatic.

C2 worked examples

New verbs from the previous level

This stage adds 50 verbs to the previous cumulative list. Here are the first 12 additions by frequency.

Common questions

Is there an official C2 French verb list?

No. CEFR defines what learners can do at each level, not a mandatory vocabulary list. This is a practical Bonjour Verbs sequence combining communicative usefulness, corpus frequency, and the tense control expected around C2.

How many French verbs should I know at C2?

Use 300 verbs as a practical working target, not a certification rule. Reliable production matters more than recognizing a much longer list.

Which French tenses should I know at C2?

The main C2 verb focus in this sequence is: passé antérieur, subjonctif imparfait, subjonctif plus-que-parfait, the complete tense system. Earlier-level tenses remain part of the cumulative skill set.