French word

pédale

Pronunciation

IPA/pedal/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpedal

Example

La pédale de mon vélo est cassée.

The pedal on my bike is broken.

Illustration for pédale (pedal)

More examples

Appuie sur la pédale d'accélérateur.

Press the accelerator pedal.

Core concept

A foot-operated plate or lever that turns pressure into movement or control.

Common phrases

  • pédale d'accélérateur

    accelerator pedal

  • pédale de frein

    brake pedal

  • pédale d'embrayage

    clutch pedal

Similar words

frein: A device used to slow or stop a vehicle or bicycle.
selle: A seat designed for straddling on a vehicle.
pneu: A rubber covering around a wheel that grips the road and absorbs shocks.
chaîne: A linked metal loop that transfers pedal motion to a bicycle's rear wheel.

Definition in French

Pièce ou plateau que l'on actionne avec le pied pour transmettre une force ou déclencher un mécanisme, par exemple sur un vélo, un piano ou une machine.

Word origin

Pédale comes through Italian pedale from Latin pedalis, meaning 'of the foot', which derives from pes, pedis.

Usage tips

  • Pédale is feminine, so standard forms include une pédale, la pédale, and cette pédale.

Other meanings

  • treadlenoun

Related words

  • pédalerpedalverb
  • pédaliercranksetnoun
  • pédalagepedalingnoun

Word lists with this word