* New verbs are constantly being created: French, like any living language, is dynamic. New verbs are coined to describe new concepts and technologies.
* Verbs can have multiple forms: A single verb stem can have many conjugated forms (e.g., "être" has 17 different forms in its indicative mood alone).
* Distinction between "main verbs" and "auxiliary verbs": Some consider auxiliary verbs like "avoir" and "être" separately, while others include them in the overall count.
However, we can estimate:
* Traditional lists: Some French grammar books and dictionaries list around 2,000-3,000 commonly used verbs.
* Total count: Linguists estimate that the total number of verbs in French, including both common and less frequently used ones, could be over 10,000.
Ultimately, the exact number is constantly evolving and depends on how you define a "verb" in French.