French Conversation · Level 7
87 words
French word
frapper
Pronunciation
IPA/fʁape/
Meaning
- verbhit
Example
Il a frappé la porte.
He hit the door.
More examples
Le joueur a frappé le ballon.
The player struck the ball.
Core concept
A hand or tool meets a surface or person with a sharp transfer of force, sometimes leaving a strong mental impact.
Common phrases
frapper à la porte
knock at the door
frapper quelqu'un
strike someone
frapper un ballon
strike a ball
Similar words
taper: To strike something gently several times in succession.
heurter: To crash into something with enough force to cause impact or injury.
gifler: To slap someone forcefully across the face.
impressionner: To affect someone deeply and leave a strong impression.
Definition in French
Donner un coup à quelqu'un ou à quelque chose avec la main, un objet ou un instrument; s'emploie aussi au sens figuré pour produire une forte impression.
Word origin
Frapper comes through Old French fraper and is generally linked to a Germanic source meaning 'strike'; its figurative uses developed from physical impact.
Usage tips
- Frapper à la porte means to knock on the door, while frapper quelqu'un takes the person as a direct object without a preposition.