French word

baisser

Pronunciation

IPA/bese/

Meaning

  • verbturn down

Example

Peux-tu baisser le volume ?

Can you turn down the volume?

Illustration for baisser (turn down)

More examples

Il faut baisser le chauffage aujourd'hui.

We need to turn down the heat today.

Core concept

Something moving downward, from a lower sound or light setting to a body bending down.

Common phrases

  • baisser le son

    lower the volume

  • baisser le chauffage

    turn down the heat

  • baisser les prix

    lower prices

Similar words

diminuer: To reduce an amount or degree.
réduire: To reduce a size, quantity, or price.
abaisser: To lower a position or height.
descendre: To move something from a higher place to a lower one.

Definition in French

Abaisser ou diminuer quelque chose, notamment le volume ou la luminosité; peut aussi signifier « se pencher » au pronominal.

Word origin

French baisser comes through Old French abaissier from bas, ultimately from Latin bassus, with French verbal formation leading to the modern ending.

Usage tips

  • The transitive pattern is baisser le volume, while the reflexive se baisser means to bend or stoop down.

Other meanings

  • go downverb
  • bend downverb

Opposites

Related words

  • baissedropnoun
  • baisséloweredadjective

Word lists with this word