verb: marcher

The French verb “marcher” has a variety of meanings, including “to walk,” “to function,” “to work,” “to tread,” “to go,” “to go for it,” and even “to fall for it.”

To walk

  • elle marche vite (she walks fast)
  • allons marcher un peu (let’s go for a little walk)

To tread

  • il a marché sur ses lunettes (he trod on his glasses)
  • tu m’a marché sur le pied (you stood on my foot)
  • ne marche pas dans les flaques (don’t walk in the puddles)
  • l’homme marchera sur Mars (man will walk on Mars)

To go

  • notre train marche vite (our train goes fast)
  • marcher vers la gloire (to be on the road to fame)
  • marcher sur Paris (to march on Paris)
  • comment a marché ton examen ? (how did your exam go?)
  • comment marchent les affaires ? (how is business?)

To work, to function

  • ma radio marche bien (my radio works well)
  • ma montre ne marche plus (my watch doesn’t work any more)
  • marcher au gaz (to run on gas)

To go for it

  • je marche (I’ll go for it)
  • elle marche pour cent euros par jour (she’s agreed to 100 euros a day)
  • ça marche ! (it’s a deal!)

To fall for it

  • tu verras, elle marchera à tous les coups (you’ll see, she falls for it every time)
  • je te faisais marcher (I was just pulling your leg)

Expressions

  • il ne marche pas, il court ! (he’s as gullible as they come)
  • marcher sur la tête de quelqu’un (to walk all over somebody)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • toujours – always or still?

    The French adverb toujours is a deceptively simple word that learners encounter early in their studies. It is most often translated as “always,” but depending on context, it can also mean “still.” These two meanings are not interchangeable, and understanding when toujours means one or the other is essential for mastering everyday French. 1. Toujours…

  • mine de rien

    “Mine de rien” is a popular French expression that is used in everyday conversations. Literally translated, it means “appearance of nothing,” “expression of nothing,” or “look of nothing,” but its true meaning goes beyond its literal interpretation. This expression is often used to describe someone’s behavior or attitude when they are doing something in a…

  • attendre que

    The French phrase “attendre que” is commonly used to mean “to wait until” or “to wait for (something to happen)”. It is used when someone is expecting or waiting for a certain action or event, often requiring the subjunctive mood for the verb that follows “que.” How “Attendre que” Differs from “Attendre” + Noun It’s…

  • il y a

    The French phrase “il y a” means “there is” or “there are.” It covers both singular and plural. “il y a” versus “c’est” “Il y a” is often used for situations where you can’t see the thing being talked about. Eg “there is a bike in the garden” (when you’re not in the garden), or…

  • passer au caviar

    The French idiom “passer au caviar” means literally “to pass to the caviar” or “to switch to the caviar.” This expression comes from Russia. Under the rule of Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855), censorship was common. In books and journals, areas that had been censored were covered in black ink. This black ink was the same…

  • happen (version 2.0)

    The English verb “to happen” has various meanings and nuances that can be expressed in different ways in French. The choice of translation depends on the context in which the word is used. This article explores the most common French equivalents for “happen” and provides examples for each. 1. Se produire Se produire is often…