French Conversation · Level 104
60 words
French word
ronger
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁɔ̃ʒe/
Meaning
- verbgnaw
Example
Le chien ronge un os.
The dog is gnawing on a bone.
More examples
Il se ronge les ongles en attendant la réponse.
He bites his nails while waiting for the answer.
Core concept
A tooth keeps scraping at one point until the object is gradually reduced from within.
Common phrases
se ronger les ongles
bite one's nails
ronger un os
gnaw a bone
Similar words
grignoter: To nibble at something, eating it in small amounts.
mordre: To bite down hard once with the teeth.
saper: To gradually undermine strength or momentum at its foundation.
abîmer: To damage something, making its condition or appearance worse.
Definition in French
Enlever par morsures ou user lentement quelque chose; s'emploie aussi pour décrire ce qui attaque ou corrode de l'intérieur.
Word origin
The verb developed from Old French rongier, which derives from Vulgar Latin rodicare and ultimately from Latin rodere, 'gnaw'.
Usage tips
- In figurative use, être rongé par commonly introduces a force such as doubt, guilt, or worry that continually consumes someone.
Other meanings
- erodeverb
- corrodeverb
Related words
- rongeurrodentnoun
- rongégnawedadjective