French Conversation · Level 126
51 words
French word
percher
Pronunciation
IPA/pɛʁʃe/
Meaning
- verbperch
Example
Les oiseaux perchent sur la branche.
The birds perch on the branch.
More examples
Le chat s'est perché sur le radiateur.
The cat perched on the radiator.
Core concept
A small creature or item perched on a thin support, with an easy sense of precarious balance.
Common phrases
percher sur une branche
perch on a branch
Similar words
se poser: To settle temporarily in a place.
poser: To set an object down somewhere.
mettre: To transfer an object to a chosen position.
s'asseoir: To lower oneself into a sitting position.
Definition in French
Poser ou mettre quelque chose ou quelqu'un sur un appui étroit, ou, pour un animal, se fixer brièvement sur un perchoir ; implique souvent une position légère ou précaire.
Word origin
The verb percher is formed from the noun perche, inherited through Old French from Latin pertica, meaning a pole or rod.
Usage tips
- Percher can be transitive for putting something on a narrow support, but birds usually appear with the pronominal form se percher.
Other meanings
- sitverb
Opposites
- s'envolerfly awayverb
Related words
- perchéperchedadjective
- perchoirperchnoun