French word

distribuer

Pronunciation

IPA/distʁibɥe/

Meaning

  • verbhand out

Example

Je vais distribuer des prospectus demain.

I am going to hand out leaflets tomorrow.

Illustration for distribuer (hand out)

More examples

Le facteur va distribuer le courrier cet après-midi.

The mail carrier will distribute the mail this afternoon.

Core concept

One person or system sorts documents, objects, or resources into separate shares and sends them to their destinations.

Common phrases

  • distribuer des prospectus

    distribute leaflets

  • distribuer le courrier

    distribute the mail

  • distribuer des tâches

    assign tasks

Similar words

donner: Giving an item or a right directly to another person.
remettre: Handing an item to a specified person or place.
partager: Dividing things, time, or experiences among several people.
livrer: Transporting goods or packages to a destination or recipient.

Definition in French

Remettre ou répartir des objets, des documents ou des ressources entre plusieurs personnes ou lieux.

Word origin

The Latin verb distribuere combined dis- 'apart' with tribuere 'to assign', giving French distribuer its sense of assigning things to different recipients or locations.

Usage tips

  • Distribuer can describe organized delivery to locations as well as hand-to-hand distribution, so it is natural for leaflets, documents, and supplies.

Other meanings

  • allocateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word