French word

circuler

Pronunciation

IPA/siʁkyle/

Meaning

  • verbgo around

Example

Des rumeurs circulent sur Internet.

Rumors are going around on the Internet.

Illustration for circuler (go around)

More examples

Les voitures circulent difficilement à cause de la neige.

The cars are moving with difficulty because of the snow.

Core concept

A continuous flow moves along a route or passes from person to person, like traffic or a rumor.

Common phrases

  • faire circuler une rumeur

    spread a rumor

  • circuler à vélo

    cycle

  • circuler entre collègues

    circulate among colleagues

Similar words

rouler: To travel along a road on wheels.
se déplacer: To move from one place to another.
avancer: To move forward in a particular direction.
conduire: To drive a vehicle along a road.

Definition in French

Se déplacer sans interruption dans un espace ou le long d'un trajet ; s'emploie aussi pour des éléments immatériels (informations, rumeurs) qui se propagent entre personnes.

Word origin

French circuler comes from Latin circulare, 'to move in a circle', formed from circulus, 'circle'; its meaning broadened to movement and transmission.

Usage tips

  • Circuler is normally intransitive; faire circuler identifies a person or group that deliberately passes something on.

Other meanings

  • spreadverb
  • be passed onverb
  • driveverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word