French word

accélérateur

Pronunciation

IPA/akseleʁatœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine noungas pedal

Example

Il a appuyé sur l'accélérateur.

He pressed the gas pedal.

Illustration for accélérateur (gas pedal)

More examples

Elle a relâché l'accélérateur pour ralentir.

She released the accelerator to slow down.

Core concept

A control that makes an engine or vehicle move faster, especially a foot-operated car pedal.

Common phrases

  • appuyer sur l'accélérateur

    press the accelerator

  • relâcher l'accélérateur

    release the accelerator

Similar words

pédale: A foot-operated plate in a vehicle used to adjust its speed.
gaz: The acceleration produced by pressing a vehicle's gas pedal, in informal speech.
frein: A device used to slow or stop a vehicle or bicycle.
accélération: An increase in the speed of an object or vehicle.

Definition in French

Pièce ou mécanisme qui accroît la vitesse d'un moteur ; en voiture, la pédale que l'on presse pour donner plus d'accélération.

Word origin

Accélérateur comes from the verb accélérer with the suffix -ateur, ultimately from Latin accelerare, based on ad- and celer, meaning 'swift'.

Usage tips

  • In driving, lever le pied de l'accélérateur means lifting the foot off the accelerator, often to reduce acceleration.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word