French Conversation · Level 16
89 words
French word
rouler
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁule/
Meaning
- verbroll
Example
La balle roule sous la table.
The ball rolls under the table.
More examples
Une noix roule sur le chemin.
A walnut rolls on the path.
Core concept
Rotation makes an object progress or gathers flexible material into a rounded form, and the same motion describes movement by vehicle.
Common phrases
rouler dans la boue
roll in the mud
rouler jusqu'au bord
roll to the edge
Similar words
conduire: Operate a vehicle while traveling from place to place.
tourner: Turn to change direction or orientation.
glisser: Move smoothly across a surface by sliding.
Definition in French
Faire tourner un objet sur lui-même ou le faire avancer par rotation ; employé aussi pour piloter un véhicule ou pour enrouler quelque chose.
Word origin
The French verb rouler is inherited through Old French roler from Latin rotulare, whose base is rota, meaning "wheel."
Usage tips
- The colloquial expression se faire rouler means to be conned, showing a figurative use that is not predictable from the physical motion alone.
Other meanings
- driveverb
- roll upverb
Opposites
- stopperstopverb
- s'immobilisercome to a stopverb
Related words
- enroulementwindingnoun
- roulantrollingadjective
- roulérolledadjective