French Conversation · Level 93
60 words
French word
héler
Pronunciation
IPA/ele/
Meaning
- verbhail
Example
Il a hélé un passant dans la rue.
He hailed a passerby in the street.
More examples
La femme a hélé un taxi en levant la main.
The woman hailed a taxi by raising her hand.
Core concept
A voice or raised hand reaches from the edge of a street to stop someone moving past.
Common phrases
héler un taxi
hail a taxi
héler quelqu'un
hail someone
Similar words
appeler: Using speech or a phone to ask someone to come.
interpeller: Addressing someone aloud to gain their attention and stop them.
siffler: Whistling to get a person or taxi to stop.
crier: Calling out loudly to draw someone's attention.
Definition in French
Attirer l'attention de quelqu'un en l'appelant depuis la rue ou le bord d'une voie, souvent à voix haute ou par un geste pour le faire s'arrêter.
Word origin
The modern verb héler developed from Old French hailer and preserves a Germanic calling sense.
Usage tips
- Héler un taxi means to hail one from the street, while appeler un taxi can also mean to call one by phone or app.
Opposites
- ignorerignoreverb