French word

courir

Pronunciation

IPA/kuʁiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbrun

Example

Je cours tous les matins.

I run every morning.

Illustration for courir (run)

More examples

Le fleuve court vers la mer.

The river flows toward the sea.

Core concept

Something travels quickly through space or among people, like a runner, flowing water, or a circulating report.

Common phrases

  • courir vite

    run fast

  • courir un marathon

    run a marathon

  • courir dans le parc

    run in the park

Similar words

marcher: Moving forward on foot by taking alternate steps.
fuir: Running away quickly to escape danger or difficulty.
circuler: Moving through an area so goods or information reach different places.
se précipiter: Setting off quickly to reach a destination in a short time.

Definition in French

Se déplacer rapidement ou, au figuré, se propager rapidement.

Word origin

The verb is inherited from Latin currere, "to run," with its modern form shaped through earlier Old French forms such as courre.

Usage tips

  • In ils courent, the ending -ent is silent, so the form is pronounced like il court even though the subject is plural.

Other meanings

  • flowverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word