French word

pétrir

Pronunciation

IPA/petʁiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbknead

Example

Je pétris la pâte pour le pain.

I knead the bread dough.

Illustration for pétrir (knead)

More examples

Le boulanger pétrit la pâte à pizza tous les matins.

The baker kneads the pizza dough every morning.

Core concept

Hands press and fold a mass of dough again and again until it becomes even and elastic.

Common phrases

  • pétrir la pâte à pizza

    knead the pizza dough

  • pétrir doucement

    knead gently

Similar words

travailler: Working dough with hands or tools to change its texture or shape.
mélanger: Blending different ingredients into a uniform mixture.
presser: Pushing an object by applying force with a hand or tool.
façonner: Shaping a material into a desired form using hands or tools.

Definition in French

Travailler une pâte avec les mains en la pressant et en la pliant pour la rendre homogène et élastique.

Word origin

French pétrir developed through Old French from Latin pinsere, meaning 'to pound or crush', and came to denote working dough by pressing and folding it.

Usage tips

  • Pétrir takes a direct object, as in pétrir la pâte; mélanger only states that ingredients are mixed, while pétrir implies hands-on working of the dough.

Other meanings

  • shapeverb

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