French word

mouvoir

Pronunciation

IPA/muvwaʁ/

Meaning

  • verbmove

Example

Elle sait se mouvoir dans la foule.

She knows how to move through the crowd.

Illustration for mouvoir (move)

More examples

Après l'opération, elle a réussi à mouvoir le doigt.

Following the operation, she succeeded in moving her finger.

Core concept

A body or force shifting something, or setting a feeling or situation in motion.

Similar words

bouger: To move part of the body or an object.
se déplacer: To travel to another place.
avancer: To move forward.
déplacer: To move a person or object to another place.

Definition in French

Indique l'action de mettre en mouvement ; au réfléchi (se mouvoir) signifie se déplacer et peut aussi s'employer au figuré pour provoquer une réaction.

Word origin

French mouvoir continues Old French movoir, from Latin movere, meaning 'to move'.

Usage tips

  • Mouvoir is transitive, while se mouvoir is reflexive and means to move or get around, often in formal written French.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word