French word

rattraper

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁatʁape/

Meaning

  • verbcatch up with

Example

Je vais rattraper Paul.

I am going to catch up with Paul.

Illustration for rattraper (catch up with)

More examples

Il faut rattraper le train.

You need to catch the train.

Core concept

Someone behind gains ground until the distance, deficit, or missed item is brought back to zero.

Common phrases

  • rattraper quelqu'un

    catch up with someone

  • rattraper le train

    catch the train

  • rattraper son retard

    make up for one's delay

Similar words

attraper: Grabbing a moving object or pursuing and capturing someone or something.
rejoindre: Reaching someone or a place and coming together after separation.
récupérer: Restoring something that was lost or making up for lost time.
compenser: Compensating for a shortage or loss to narrow the resulting gap.

Definition in French

Faire disparaître un retard ou un désavantage en rejoignant le niveau d'autrui ou en comblant une absence, soit en atteignant quelqu'un, soit en récupérant ce qui manquait.

Word origin

French formed rattraper by adding re- to attraper; the repeated-catching idea developed into catching up and making up a shortfall.

Usage tips

  • Rattraper un retard means catch up on a delay, while rattraper un cours means make up a missed class.

Other meanings

  • recoververb
  • catch up on missed workverb
  • make up forverb

Opposites

  • manquermissverb
  • distanceroutdistanceverb

Related words

  • rattrapageremedial classnoun
  • rattrapécaught upadjective

Word lists with this word