Physical state with avoir

​Avoir = to have

Avoir is one of the most common verbs in French language.
The primary meaning of avoir is to express ownership but we also use it to describe our physical or moral state.

It's usage is often counter-intuitive for English speakers as the English language would call for "to be" (être).

To be thirsty - to have thirst

Il a soif

Avoir soif

​To be hot

Il a chaud

​​Avoir chaud

To be scared

Elle a peur

Avoir peur

To have hunger - to be hungry

Ex: Elles ont faim

Memory trick: think of famished

Avoir Faim

To be cold

EX: J'ai froid

Avoir Froid

To describe hair color: to have color adjective hair

Ex: Ils ont les cheveux marron

Memory trick: think of famished

Avoir les cheveux + une couleur

To be cold

EX: J'ai froid

Avoir Froid

​To be daydreaming

Elle a la tête dans les nuages

AVOIR la tête dans les nuages

To need - to have need of something

Tu as besoin de dormir (sleep)

​​AVOIR besoin de

• To have a headache

• ​To have leg pain

• To have an earache

• To have a tooth ache

• J'ai mal à la tête

• Tu as mal à la jambe

• Il a mal aux oreilles

• Il a mal aux dents

AVOIR MAL À + BODY PART
To ache - To have an ache