The French Verb 'Joindre' ('to Join')

Joindre is an irregular French -re verb that means to "join," "put together," "connect," "link." The conjugation of this transitive verb doesn't adhere to the regular conjugation patterns of French -re verbs, but it does share similarities with a group of other irregular -re verbs ending in -aindre, -eindre, and -oindre. There are other irregular -re groups centered around prendre, battre, mettre, and rompre that also exhibit some similarities.

'Joindre' Is an Irregular '-re' Verb

Note that the table below shows all the simple conjugations of the verb joindre; the compound tenses, which include a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb avoir and the past participle joint, are not included.

French irregular verbs that end in -oindre, -aindre and -eindre follow conjugation patterns, meaning they are all conjugated in the same way. Learn how to conjugate one verb in this group, and you'll understand how to conjugate other verbs in the group. Here are a few examples of irregular verbs with each of these three endings.

Verbs Ending in '-oindre' 

All French verbs ending in -oindre are conjugated the same way:

• adjoindre > to appoint
• conjoindre > to unite
• disjoindre > to disconnect, to separate
• enjoindre > to enjoin or charge someone to do something
• oindre > to anoint
• rejoindre > to rejoin, to get back to

Verbs Ending in '-aindre' 

All French verbs that end in -aindre are conjugated the same way:

• contraindre > to force, to compel
• craindre > to fear
• plaindre > to pity, to feel sorry for

Verbs Ending in '-eindre' 

All French verbs that end in -eindre are conjugated the same way:

• astreindre > to compel, to force
• atteindre > to attain, to reach
• ceindre > to don, to put on
• dépeindre > to depict
• déteindre > to bleach, to leach
• empreindre > to imprint
• enfreindre > to infringe, to break
• épreindre > to juice
• éteindre > to extinguish, to snuff out
• étreindre > to embrace, to clutch
• feindre > to feign
• geindre > to groan, whine
• peindre > to paint
• repeindre > to repaint
• restreindr > to restrict, to limit
• reteindre > to dye again
• teindre > to dye

'Joindre': Usage and Expressions 

• joindre les deux bouts > to make ends meet financially
• joindre les mains [pour prier] > to clasp one's hands [to pray]
• joindre quelque chose à > to add something to
• joindre un fichier à un message électronique informatique > to attach a file to an email message
• Je joins à ce pli un chèque de 300 euros. > Please find enclosed a check for 300 euros.
• Voulez-vous joindre une carte aux fleurs? > Would you like to attach a card to the flowers?
•  Je joins mon curriculum vitae. > I enclose my CV.
• Vous pouvez le joindre chez lui. > You can reach him at home.
• On va joindre les deux tables. > We're going to put the two tables together.
• joindre les talons > to put one's heels together
• joindre l'utile à l'agréable > to combine business with pleasure
• Intransitive joindre: to fit [together] properly, as in:
  Ces planches joignent mal. > These planks don't fit together properly.

Simple Conjugations of the Irregular French Verb 'Joindre'

	Present	Future	Imperfect	Present participle
je	joins	joindrai	joignais	joignant
tu	joins	joindras	joignais
il	joint	joindra	joignait	Passé composé
nous	joignons	joindrons	joignions	Auxiliary verb avoir
vous	joignez	joindrez	joigniez	Past participle joint
ils	joignent	joindront	joignaient
	Subjunctive	Conditional	Passé simple	Imperfect subjunctive
je	joigne	joindrais	joignis	joignisse
tu	joignes	joindrais	joignis	joignisses
il	joigne	joindrait	joignit	joignît
nous	joignions	joindrions	joignîmes	joignissions
vous	joigniez	joindriez	joignîtes	joignissiez
ils	joignent	joindraient	joignirent	joignissent

	Imperative
(tu)	joins
(nous)	joignons
(vous)	joignez