French word

éparpiller

Pronunciation

IPA/epaʁpije/

Meaning

  • verbscatter

Example

Le vent a éparpillé les papiers sur le sol.

The wind scattered the papers on the floor.

Illustration for éparpiller (scatter)

More examples

Les enfants ont éparpillé leurs jouets dans le salon.

The children scattered their toys in the living room.

Core concept

One concentrated group broken up into a disorderly spread over a surface or across several places.

Common phrases

  • éparpiller ses affaires

    scatter one's belongings

  • éparpiller des vêtements

    scatter clothes

Similar words

disperser: Break up a group or separate people so they move apart.
répandre: Spread a liquid or powder over a wide area.
étaler: Spread something flat across a broad surface.
répartir: Divide and distribute items or work evenly.

Definition in French

Signifie disperser de manière désordonnée des objets ou des éléments sur une surface ou dans plusieurs endroits.

Word origin

Éparpiller is a French development of Old French esparpiller and is related to the Latin root spargere, associated with scattering and spreading.

Usage tips

  • Unlike "répartir," which suggests an organized or balanced distribution, "éparpiller" suggests an irregular result.

Other meanings

  • disperseverb

Opposites

Related words

  • éparpillagescatteringnoun
  • éparpilléscatteredadjective

Word lists with this word