French word

flotter

Pronunciation

IPA/flote/

Meaning

  • verbfloat

Example

Le bouchon flotte sur l'eau.

The cork floats on the water.

Illustration for flotter (float)

More examples

Un drapeau flotte au vent.

A flag flutters in the wind.

Core concept

Something carried without firm support, moving gently on water or air and never quite settling.

Common phrases

  • flotter sur l'eau

    float on water

  • flotter au vent

    flutter in the wind

  • flotter dans l'air

    float in the air

Similar words

couler: Go downward beneath the surface of a liquid.
nager: Propel the body through water by one's own effort.
dériver: Be carried aimlessly along by wind or moving water.
onduler: Move up and down in smooth, wave-like motions.

Definition in French

Se maintenir à la surface d'un liquide ou être porté par le vent dans l'air; s'emploie aussi au sens figuré pour exprimer qu'une opinion, une atmosphère ou une sensation reste incertaine ou en suspens.

Word origin

French flotter comes from Old French floter and belongs to the same Germanic word family as English float.

Usage tips

  • For a liquid surface, flotter commonly takes sur, as in flotter sur l'eau, while dans l'air places the movement within the air.

Other meanings

  • driftverb
  • flutterverb

Opposites

Related words

  • flottantfloatingadjective
  • flotteurfloatnoun
  • flottementflutternoun

Word lists with this word