French word

marcher

Pronunciation

IPA/maʁʃe/

Meaning

  • verbwalk

Example

Je marche tous les jours.

I walk every day.

Illustration for marcher (walk)

More examples

La lampe ne marche pas.

The lamp does not work.

Core concept

One foot follows the other in a regular forward rhythm, whether the movement is an ordinary walk, a march, or a figurative process that moves ahead.

Common phrases

  • marcher à pied

    walk on foot

  • marcher vite

    walk quickly

  • marcher sur le trottoir

    walk on the sidewalk

Similar words

aller: To travel to a place and arrive there.
se déplacer: To move from one place to another.
se promener: To take a leisurely walk while looking around.
fonctionner: To work properly and fulfill its intended function.

Definition in French

Se déplacer en mettant un pied devant l'autre de façon alternée.

Word origin

French marcher developed from Old French marchier and ultimately comes from a Germanic source related to the origin of English march.

Usage tips

  • The imperative Marche ! can mean 'Walk!' or 'Go on!', while ça marche means 'It works' or 'Agreed', so context determines the sense.

Other meanings

  • marchverb
  • workverb

Opposites

  • s'arrêterstopverb

Related words

Word lists with this word