verb: marcher

ByFast French

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)

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