French word

gerber

Pronunciation

IPA/ʒɛʁbe/

Meaning

  • verbthrow up

Example

Il a gerbé devant la porte.

He threw up in front of the door.

Illustration for gerber (throw up)

More examples

Après avoir bu trop vite, il a failli gerber dans la rue.

After drinking too quickly, he nearly puked in the street.

Core concept

A sudden, messy burst of stomach contents through the mouth.

Common phrases

  • avoir envie de gerber

    feel like puking

  • être sur le point de gerber

    be about to puke

  • faire gerber

    make ___ puke

Similar words

vomir: To vomit, stated in standard language.
rendre: To refer euphemistically to vomiting, as in bringing up one's lunch.

Definition in French

Expulser avec force par la bouche le contenu de l'estomac; terme familier pour vomir.

Word origin

The origin of slang gerber is uncertain, and no established Latin, borrowing, or word-formation account explains the verb.

Usage tips

  • Gerber is strongly colloquial, so vomir is the safer choice in formal or respectful speech.

Opposites

Related words

  • gerbépukedadjective
  • gerbantnauseatingadjective

Word lists with this word