French word

ramer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁame/

Meaning

  • verbrow

Example

Nous ramons sur le lac ce matin.

We are rowing on the lake this morning.

Illustration for ramer (row)

More examples

Elle rame pour joindre les deux bouts.

She struggles to make ends meet.

Core concept

A rower pushes water backward in repeated strokes to move a boat forward, a physical model for struggling toward progress.

Common phrases

  • ramer pour joindre les deux bouts

    struggle to make ends meet

  • ramer sur la Seine

    row on the Seine

Similar words

galérer: To struggle because things are not going smoothly.
peiner: To struggle despite making an effort to succeed.
pagayer: To propel a canoe or small boat with a paddle.
trimer: To endure hardship through heavy or prolonged work.

Definition in French

Faire avancer une embarcation en poussant l'eau avec une rame ; par extension familière, avoir des difficultés pour accomplir quelque chose.

Word origin

The verb was formed from French rame, 'oar', a word descended from Latin remus, and its figurative sense developed from the labor of rowing.

Usage tips

  • In familiar French, ramer can describe a person, a task, or a device that progresses badly, and ça rame often refers to slow operation.

Other meanings

  • struggleverb

Opposites

Related words

  • rameurrowernoun
  • rameusefemale rowernoun

Word lists with this word