French word

ranger

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɑ̃ʒe/

Meaning

  • verbtidy up

Example

Je vais ranger la chambre.

I'm going to tidy up the room.

Illustration for ranger (tidy up)

More examples

Il faut ranger les vêtements avant de partir.

You have to put the clothes away before leaving.

Core concept

Used things move from scattered positions into an orderly row of shelves, drawers, or other places.

Common phrases

  • ranger la chambre

    tidy up the room

  • ranger ses affaires

    put away one's things

  • ranger le bureau

    put the desk in order

Similar words

mettre: Putting something in a particular place.
jeter: Getting rid of something unwanted.
nettoyer: Cleaning away dirt or dust.
organiser: Organizing items or space so they are easier to use.

Definition in French

Remettre des affaires à leur place et organiser l'espace pour qu'il soit rangé.

Word origin

Ranger developed from Old French rengier, formed from rang, meaning a row or ordered position, with the verb ending -er.

Usage tips

  • Ranger is transitive, so French uses ranger quelque chose, as in Je vais ranger la chambre, without a preposition before the object.

Other meanings

  • organizeverb
  • put awayverb
  • arrangeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • rangementputting things awaynoun
  • rangéneatadjective

Word lists with this word