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Verb conjugation

abîmer

to damage; to fall down or sink and disappear in a hole, depth, abyss

Usage

"To damage" or "to spoil" — the everyday, common verb for something getting ruined, whether through wear (des chaussures qui s'abîment), an accident, or careless handling. The reflexive s'abîmer describes something deteriorating on its own or over time.

Examples
  • Ne laisse pas le livre dehors, il va s'abîmer sous la pluie.Don't leave the book outside, it'll get ruined in the rain.
  • Elle a abîmé sa voiture en se garant.She damaged her car while parking.
  • Ces vieilles photos s'abîment avec le temps.These old photos are deteriorating over time.
Common mistake

Learners often reach for casser (to break) when abîmer is more accurate — casser implies something is now broken/non-functional, while abîmer just means damaged or in worse condition, which can be much milder (a scratched surface, a faded color, a worn edge).

Often confused with casser.

Simple tenses

Present

jeabîme
tuabîmes
il/elleabîme
nousabîmons
vousabîmez
ils/ellesabîment

Imperfect

jeabîmais
tuabîmais
il/elleabîmait
nousabîmions
vousabîmiez
ils/ellesabîmaient

Past historic (passé simple)

jeabîmai
tuabîmas
il/elleabîma
nousabîmâmes
vousabîmâtes
ils/ellesabîmèrent

Future

jeabîmerai
tuabîmeras
il/elleabîmera
nousabîmerons
vousabîmerez
ils/ellesabîmeront

Conditional

jeabîmerais
tuabîmerais
il/elleabîmerait
nousabîmerions
vousabîmeriez
ils/ellesabîmeraient

Subjunctive

jeabîme
tuabîmes
il/elleabîme
nousabîmions
vousabîmiez
ils/ellesabîment

Subjunctive (imperfect)

jeabîmasse
tuabîmasses
il/elleabîmât
nousabîmassions
vousabîmassiez
ils/ellesabîmassent

Imperative

tuabîme
nousabîmons
vousabîmez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

jeai abîmé
tuas abîmé
il/ellea abîmé
nousavons abîmé
vousavez abîmé
ils/ellesont abîmé

Plus-que-parfait

jeavais abîmé
tuavais abîmé
il/elleavait abîmé
nousavions abîmé
vousaviez abîmé
ils/ellesavaient abîmé

Passé antérieur

jeeus abîmé
tueus abîmé
il/elleeut abîmé
nouseûmes abîmé
vouseûtes abîmé
ils/elleseurent abîmé

Futur antérieur

jeaurai abîmé
tuauras abîmé
il/elleaura abîmé
nousaurons abîmé
vousaurez abîmé
ils/ellesauront abîmé

Conditionnel passé

jeaurais abîmé
tuaurais abîmé
il/elleaurait abîmé
nousaurions abîmé
vousauriez abîmé
ils/ellesauraient abîmé

Subjonctif passé

jeaie abîmé
tuaies abîmé
il/elleait abîmé
nousayons abîmé
vousayez abîmé
ils/ellesaient abîmé

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

jeeusse abîmé
tueusses abîmé
il/elleeût abîmé
nouseussions abîmé
vouseussiez abîmé
ils/elleseussent abîmé

Impératif passé

tuaie abîmé
nousayons abîmé
vousayez abîmé

Other

Present participle

abîmant

Past participle

abîmé

Infinitive

abîmer

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "abîmer" mean?

"abîmer" means "to damage; to fall down or sink and disappear in a hole, depth, abyss".

How do you conjugate "abîmer" in the present tense?

The present of "abîmer" is: je abîme, tu abîmes, il/elle abîme, nous abîmons, vous abîmez, ils/elles abîment.

What is the Passé composé of "abîmer"?

The passé composé of "abîmer" is: je ai abîmé, tu as abîmé, il/elle a abîmé, nous avons abîmé, vous avez abîmé, ils/elles ont abîmé.

What is the Imperative of "abîmer"?

The imperative of "abîmer" is: tu abîme, nous abîmons, vous abîmez.