French word

remuer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəmɥe/

Meaning

  • verbstir

Example

Je remue mon café.

I stir my coffee.

Illustration for remuer (stir)

More examples

Elle remue la soupe avant de servir.

She stirs the soup before serving.

Core concept

Repeated light movement agitates a liquid from within, like a drink moved by a spoon.

Common phrases

  • remuer le café

    stir the coffee

  • remuer la soupe

    stir the soup

  • remuer les bras

    move one's arms

Similar words

mélanger: To mix two or more things together into one.
secouer: To shake something or a container so its contents move.
agiter: To shake something forcefully so its contents move vigorously.

Definition in French

Bouger ou agiter quelque chose, en particulier un liquide, par des mouvements répétés et légers pour en mélanger le contenu.

Word origin

The verb remuer developed in Old French from Latin remutare, a verb built from re- and mutare, 'to change'.

Usage tips

  • The pronominal form se remuer often refers figuratively to getting active or taking action, unlike the transitive physical use.

Other meanings

  • moveverb
  • shakeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • remuantrestlessadjective
  • remuéupsetadjective
  • remue-ménagecommotionnoun

Word lists with this word