French Conversation · Level 46
74 words
French word
cumuler
Pronunciation
IPA/kymyle/
Meaning
- verbaccumulate
Example
Il cumule les erreurs.
He keeps accumulating mistakes.
More examples
Il cumule plusieurs emplois pour arrondir ses fins de mois.
He holds several jobs to make ends meet.
Core concept
A growing pile in which separate items, points, or duties build into one total or several simultaneous roles.
Common phrases
cumuler les mandats
hold multiple offices
cumuler les fonctions
hold multiple positions
cumuler plusieurs emplois
hold several jobs
Similar words
accumuler: To collect items or figures until their total grows.
totaliser: To sum points, amounts, or other figures to find the total.
additionner: To combine several numbers or values by addition.
empiler: To pile objects on top of one another.
Definition in French
Réunir ou additionner plusieurs éléments (objets, points, responsabilités) pour obtenir un total ou exercer plusieurs fonctions en même temps.
Word origin
French cumuler comes from Latin cumulāre, 'to heap up', from cumulus, 'heap', and extends that image to amounts, errors, and simultaneous functions.
Usage tips
- Unlike English 'cumulate', common French uses include cumuler des points, des erreurs, or des fonctions, while empiler is more natural for physically stacking objects.
Other meanings
- hold multiple positionsverb
Related words
- cumulaccumulationnoun
- cumulatifcumulativeadjective