Rompre Conjugation in French: Full Tables, Rules, and Practical Examples

The French verb rompre is a key third-group verb meaning "to break", "to sever", or "to break up". While its English equivalent is straightforward, its French conjugation includes specific spelling nuances that trip up even intermediate students.

In this comprehensive guide from my-french.com, you will find full conjugation tables across all essential tenses, pronunciation insights, derived verbs, and typical everyday idioms.

1. What Makes "Rompre" Unique in French Grammar?

Rompre is categorized as an irregular third-group verb ending in -re. Its primary spelling quirk occurs in the present indicative:

  • Most regular verbs dropping -re take endings like -s, -s, -d (e.g., vendre -> il vend).
  • However, verbs ending in -pre maintain the p and add a t in the third person singular (il / elle / on). Thus, the correct spelling is il rompt, never il romp.

Its past participle is rompu, formed using the auxiliary verb avoir in standard active sentences, and être in reflexive forms (se rompre).

2. Indicative Conjugation Tables

The indicative mood (l'indicatif) expresses objective actions and certain facts.

Present (Présent)

  • Je romps (I break)
  • Tu romps (You break)
  • Il / Elle / On rompt (He / She / One breaks)
  • Nous rompons (We break)
  • Vous rompez (You break [formal/plural])
  • Ils / Elles rompent (They break)

Pronunciation tip: The forms je romps, tu romps, and il rompt are homophones pronounced [ʁɔ̃]. The final consonants (-ps, -pt) remain silent.

Present Perfect (Passé Composé)

  • J'ai rompu (I broke / I have broken)
  • Tu as rompu
  • Il / Elle / On a rompu
  • Nous avons rompu
  • Vous avez rompu
  • Ils / Elles ont rompu

    • Imperfect (Imparfait)

  • Je rompais (I was breaking / used to break)
  • Tu rompais
  • Il / Elle / On rompait
  • Nous rompions
  • Vous rompiez
  • Ils / Elles rompaient

    • Simple Future (Futur Simple)

  • Je romprai (I will break)
  • Tu rompras
  • Il / Elle / On rompra
  • Nous romprons
  • Vous romprez
  • Ils / Elles rompront

    • Past Historic (Passé Simple)

  • Je rompis
  • Tu rompis
  • Il / Elle / On rompit
  • Nous rompîmes
  • Vous rompîtes
  • Ils / Elles rompirent

    • 3. Subjunctive and Conditional Moods

    Present Subjunctive (Subjonctif Présent)

  • Que je rompe
  • Que tu rompes
  • Qu'il / elle / on rompe
  • Que nous rompions
  • Que vous rompiez
  • Qu'ils / elles rompent

    • Used after expressions of necessity, emotion, doubt, or will:

Example: « Il faut que nous rompions ce pacte. » (We must break this pact.)

Present Conditional (Conditionnel Présent)

  • Je romprais (I would break)
  • Tu romprais
  • Il / Elle / On romprait
  • Nous romprions
  • Vous rompriez
  • Ils / Elles rompraient

    • Used for hypothetical statements or polite suggestions:

    4. Imperative and Participles

    Imperative (Impératif)

  • Romps ! (Break! - informal singular)
  • Rompons ! (Let's break!)
  • Rompez ! (Break! - formal or plural)

    • Commands omit subject pronouns:

    Participles

  • Present Participle: rompant (breaking)
  • Past Participle: rompu (broken)
  • Gerund: en rompant (while breaking)

    • 5. Related Verbs Conjugated Like Rompre

  • Interrompre: to interrupt (il interrompt, j'ai interrompu)
  • Corrompre: to corrupt (il corrompt, ils corrompent)

    • Whenever you encounter a verb built on the stem rompre, apply these identical endings:

    6. Popular French Idioms with "Rompre"

  • Rompre avec quelqu'un : to break up with someone (Ils ont rompu la semaine dernière).
  • Rompre les ponts : to burn bridges or cut off ties completely.
  • Rompre le silence : to speak out after a silence.
  • À tout rompre : deafening or wildly energetic (Des applaudissements à tout rompre = deafening applause).

    • To make your French sound natural, integrate these common figurative expressions:

By keeping the stem romp- in mind and remembering the unique spelling of il rompt, you will confidently handle this verb in writing and speaking.