French word

boire

Pronunciation

IPA/bwaʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdrink

Example

Je bois de l'eau.

I drink water.

Illustration for boire (drink)

More examples

Après le sport, il boit de l'eau.

After exercising, he drinks water.

Core concept

A person takes a drink into the mouth and swallows it, with the same action extending to drinking alcohol.

Common phrases

  • boire de l'eau

    drink water

  • boire un café

    have a coffee

  • boire un verre

    have a drink

Similar words

prendre: To have a drink or go out for drinks.
avaler: To swallow something and send it down the throat.

Definition in French

Prendre par la bouche un liquide et l'avaler.

Word origin

French boire developed from Latin bibere through Old French, while related Romance forms include Spanish beber and Italian bere.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern for a substance is boire de l'eau or boire du café, using the partitive article rather than a bare noun.

Other meanings

  • absorbverb

Opposites

  • jeûnerfastverb
  • s'abstenirabstainverb

Related words

Word lists with this word