French word

bousculer

Pronunciation

IPA/buskyle/

Meaning

  • verbshove

Example

Ne me bouscule pas.

Don't shove me.

Illustration for bousculer (shove)

More examples

Le changement a bousculé son quotidien.

The change disrupted his daily routine.

Core concept

A brusque push makes people or things collide, while the same disruption can unsettle a person's mind.

Common phrases

  • bousculer les habitudes

    disrupt habits

  • bousculer le planning

    disrupt the schedule

  • bousculer quelqu'un

    push someone

Similar words

pousser: To push someone or something forward or sideways using force.
heurter: To collide with someone or something and deliver an impact.
repousser: To push someone or something back to keep it at a distance.
frapper: To strike someone or something forcefully with a hand or object.

Definition in French

Donner un coup brusque à quelqu'un ou à quelque chose ; par extension, presser une personne ou troubler son équilibre ou son calme.

Word origin

Bousculer belongs to an old French expressive formation for jolting or pushing and uses the productive verb ending -er.

Usage tips

  • Se bousculer describes people pushing against one another, whereas bousculer quelqu'un presents one person or thing as the direct object.

Other meanings

  • hurryverb
  • upsetverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word