être

être Wrtdtng: "Seins-Stand"

From Middle French and Old French estre and ester, respectively from Early Medieval Latin essere (< esse "be") and Latin stāre (“stand”). Conjugations reflect both but more so the former. The form suis "(I) am" appears to reflect Vulgar Latin *suiō < Latin sum. Compare ai "(I) have", sais "(I) know" < *aiō, *saiō < habeō, sapiō.

Verb

être

1. (copulative) to be

   Vous devez être plus clairs.

   You must be clearer.

2. (auxiliary) used to form the perfect and pluperfect tense of certain verbs (including all reflexive verbs)

   Après être allé au yoga, je suis rentré chez moi.

   After having gone to yoga, I came back home.

3. (auxiliary) used to form the passive voice

   Il peut être battu ce soir.

   He can be beaten this evening.