French Conversation · Level 123
59 words
French word
tailler
Pronunciation
IPA/taje/
Meaning
- verbsharpen
Example
Il taille son crayon avant de dessiner.
He sharpens his pencil before drawing.
More examples
Chaque automne, il taille la haie du jardin.
Each autumn, he trims the garden hedge.
Core concept
Repeated light cuts reduce excess material while preserving the intended outline of an object or the even line of a surface.
Common phrases
tailler un crayon
sharpen a pencil
tailler une haie
trim a hedge
tailler ses ongles
cut one's nails
Similar words
couper: Separate or reduce something by cutting it with a knife or scissors.
rogner: Cut off small excess parts to neaten the appearance or adjust the size.
découper: Divide paper, cloth, food, or similar items into useful shapes by cutting.
Definition in French
Retirer progressivement de petites portions d'un matériau pour affiner une forme, par exemple pour affûter un outil ou égaliser une barbe.
Word origin
Tailler is inherited through Old French taillier from Latin talea, referring to a cutting or twig, with the verb extending from cutting pieces to shaping things.
Usage tips
- With a hedge or a tree, tailler commonly means to prune or trim, so the object determines the most natural English sense.