French Conversation · Level 53
75 words
French word
piquer
Pronunciation
IPA/pike/
Meaning
- verbsting
Example
Un moustique m'a piqué hier soir.
A mosquito stung me last night.
More examples
Ne touche pas la ronce, tu vas te piquer.
Don't touch the bramble: you'll prick yourself.
Core concept
A sharp point makes quick contact, leaving a tiny mark, a sting, or a sudden impression.
Common phrases
se faire piquer au bras
get pricked in the arm
se piquer avec une épingle
prick oneself with a pin
Similar words
percer: To pierce an object or skin with a point or sharp tool.
mordre: To bite an object or skin with the teeth, causing pain or injury.
griffer: To scratch skin with claws or something sharp, leaving a mark or wound.
dérober: To secretly or cleverly take someone else's property for oneself.
Definition in French
Frapper légèrement avec une pointe en perçant la surface; au familier, prendre furtivement quelque chose; par extension, susciter une petite douleur ou attirer l'attention.
Word origin
French piquer is inherited from Old French piquier, with the basic sense of pricking or puncturing.
Usage tips
- With a person as object, piquer quelqu'un can mean that an insect bites that person, while se faire piquer par states the same event from the person's viewpoint.
Other meanings
- stealverb
- stimulateverb
Related words
- piqûrepricknoun
- piquéprickedadjective