French word

trouer

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁue/

Meaning

  • verbput a hole in

Example

J'ai troué mon pantalon.

I put a hole in my pants.

Illustration for trouer (put a hole in)

More examples

Le chat a troué le canapé avec ses griffes.

The cat made a hole in the couch with its claws.

Core concept

A sharp force breaks through a surface, leaving one opening or many holes.

Common phrases

  • trouer une chaussette

    make a hole in a sock

  • trouer un vêtement

    make a hole in a garment

  • trouer une chaussure

    make a hole in a shoe

Similar words

crever: To puncture a tire or balloon and let the air out.
percer: To make a hole through something with a drill or sharp tool.
déchirer: To tear fabric or paper by pulling it apart.
abîmer: To damage something and make it worse.

Definition in French

Faire passer quelque chose au travers d'une matière ou provoquer un orifice en endommageant un objet, parfois au point de le rendre plein de trous.

Word origin

Trouer is formed from the noun trou with the verb-forming suffix -er, following a common French noun-to-verb pattern.

Usage tips

  • With a tire as object, trouer means to puncture it and cause a flat, while percer more neutrally describes making a hole.

Other meanings

  • perforateverb
  • pierceverb
  • punctureverb

Opposites

Related words

  • trouéwith a hole in itadjective

Word lists with this word