The verb “piger” is a colloquial term in French that means “to understand” or “to grasp.” It is often used in informal contexts, instead of the usual verb “comprendre,” meaning “to understand.”

The verb “piger” is conjugated like a regular -er verb in French, with forms such as “je pige” (I understand), “tu piges” (you understand), “il/elle/on pige” (he/she/one understands), “nous pigons” (we understand), “vous pigez” (you understand, formal/plural), and “ils/elles pigent” (they understand).

• “Je pige pas ce que tu dis.” (I don’t understand what you’re saying.)
• “Tu piges vite.” (You grasp quickly.)
• “Il pige le problème.” (He understands the problem.)
• “Nous pigions la situation.” (We understood the situation.)
• “Vous pigez les règles du jeu?” (Do you understand the rules of the game?)
• “Ils pigent la leçon.” (They understand the lesson.)

Etymology

The etymology of “piger” traces back to the Old French word “pignier,” which evolved into “pigner” in Middle French before adopting its current form, “piger,” in Modern French. “Piger” originally came from the Latin noun “pedicus,” meaning one who catches something in a trap. “Pedicus” in turn came from another Latin noun “pedica,” meaning “trap.”