French word

broyer

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁwaje/

Meaning

  • verbgrind

Example

Je broie du poivre.

I grind pepper.

Illustration for broyer (grind)

More examples

Il faut broyer des amandes pour la pâte.

You have to grind almonds for the dough.

Core concept

A strong force grinds something down to particles and can also crush a person's emotional strength.

Common phrases

  • broyer du poivre

    grind pepper

  • broyer des amandes

    grind almonds

  • broyer en purée

    grind into a puree

Similar words

écraser: To crush something under pressure so that its shape changes substantially.
moudre: To finely grind grains or spices between millstones or in a machine.
presser: To press something by hand or with a tool to release liquid or reshape it.
piler: To crush something repeatedly with a mortar and pestle into a fine powder.

Definition in French

Réduire par pression ou frottement en petits fragments; au figuré, accabler ou tourmenter quelqu'un.

Word origin

French broyer comes from Old French broier, a medieval verb for crushing or grinding, and this concrete meaning supports its figurative uses.

Usage tips

  • The common idiom broyer du noir means to feel gloomy or depressed and cannot be translated literally as crushing black.

Other meanings

  • pulverizeverb
  • crushverb

Related words

  • broyagegrindingnoun
  • broyeurgrindernoun
  • broyégroundadjective

Word lists with this word