French word

claquer

Pronunciation

IPA/klake/

Meaning

  • verbsnap one's fingers

Example

Elle claque des doigts pour attirer l'attention.

She snaps her fingers to attract attention.

Illustration for claquer (snap one's fingers)

More examples

Il a claqué la porte en partant.

He slammed the door as he left.

Core concept

A quick, forceful snap marks a sound, a closing action, or a very abrupt ending.

Common phrases

  • claquer des doigts

    snap one's fingers

  • claquer la porte

    slam the door

  • claquer des dents

    chatter one's teeth

Similar words

frapper: To hit hard with a hand or object to create sound or impact.
taper: To make a rhythm or signal by lightly tapping repeatedly with a hand or finger.
applaudir: To bring the hands together repeatedly to make a distinct applause sound.
siffler: To produce a high sound by blowing air through the lips or between the teeth.

Definition in French

Émettre un petit bruit sec en claquant les doigts pour attirer l'attention ou marquer un rythme ; par analogie, clore violemment un objet (porte) et, en registre familier, signifier la mort.

Word origin

The verb claquer comes from the sound-symbolic French form clac, whose sense of a sharp report extended to objects shutting hard and to a familiar expression for death.

Usage tips

  • The death sense of claquer is strongly familiar, so more neutral French uses mourir or décéder in formal contexts.

Other meanings

  • slamverb
  • dieverb

Opposites

Related words

  • claquementsnapnoun
  • claquagemuscle strainnoun
  • claquantsharp-soundingadjective

Word lists with this word