French word

décrocher

Pronunciation

IPA/dekʁoʃe/

Meaning

  • verbpick up

Example

Peux-tu décrocher ?

Can you pick up?

Illustration for décrocher (pick up)

More examples

Elle a décroché le portable tout de suite.

She answered the mobile phone right away.

Core concept

A hooked object is pulled free and taken in hand, extending naturally to taking a call or gaining an opportunity.

Common phrases

  • décrocher le combiné

    pick up the receiver

  • décrocher le portable

    answer the mobile phone

Similar words

répondre: Respond to a phone call or incoming call.
prendre: Pick up the receiver or phone.
obtenir: Obtain something through effort or a formal process.

Definition in French

Prendre le combiné pour répondre au téléphone; au sens figuré, décrocher quelque chose comme un poste ou une récompense.

Word origin

French formed décrocher from dé- and crocher, related to crochet, for the act of removing something from a hook; the verb later acquired its receiver and attainment senses.

Usage tips

  • The spelling has both a hard c before r and the sound sh in ch, while the final -er is pronounced like the vowel in French parler.

Other meanings

  • winverb
  • unhookverb

Opposites

Related words

  • décrochédetachedadjective
  • redécrocheranswer the phone againverb

Word lists with this word