French Conversation · Level 140
30 words
French word
rayer
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁeje/
Meaning
- verbcross out
Example
J'ai rayé son nom du registre.
I crossed his name off the register.
More examples
Elle a rayé une ligne dans son carnet.
She crossed out a line in her notebook.
Core concept
A pen line cuts through a written name or entry, taking it out of the list.
Common phrases
rayer un nom
cross out a name
rayer une ligne
cross out a line
rayer de la liste
remove from the list
Similar words
biffer: To mark letters or words with a line to cancel them.
barrer: To cross out a line or listed item.
effacer: To erase writing or marks until they are no longer visible.
Definition in French
Tracer une ligne sur un mot ou une mention écrite pour l'annuler ou la supprimer d'une liste.
Word origin
French rayer comes from Old French forms related to raie, meaning a line or streak, ultimately from Latin radius, and developed the sense of cancelling an entry by marking it.
Usage tips
- Rayer is transitive: rayer un nom means to cross a name off, while se rayer describes a surface becoming scratched.