If you’re looking to start your week by learning about a French word, you’re in luck! In this edition of our blog, we’re going to take an in-depth look at rouler.
To begin, listen to the audio clip for the correct pronunciation of this verb in its infinitive form:
Moving on to the translation, there is a little hint if you think about the possible connection to the English verb ‘to roll’. But even if you did notice this, it doesn’t mean you’ve understood all of the translations quite yet!
The verb rouler can translate as ‘to roll’, ‘to roll up/out’, ‘to drive’ and very commonly ‘to go’, but with the caveat that you’re going somewhere on wheels. There are also some informal uses of the verb, where it can translate to actions like ‘to con’ or ‘to fool’.
Despite the huge variety of translations, the grammar is somewhat easier. When putting this verb to use, you can follow the regular conjugation pattern for -er verbs.
Let’s see some examples of using rouler in action – firstly as a transitive verb, which means it needs a direct object to make sense. You’ll notice that only some of the translations we mentioned fit into this category:
rouler un tapis to roll up a carpet/rug
rouler les épaules to sway your shoulders (in the sense of swaggering)
rouler une cigarette to roll a cigarette
Ma mère apprend l’espagnol, mais elle a du mal à rouler les « r ». My mum is learning Spanish, but she struggles to roll the ‘r’s.
Est-ce tu sais comment rouler des sushis ? Do you know how to roll sushi?
J’ai roulé le chaton dans une couverture. I wrapped up the kitten in a blanket.
On roulera le poster pour l’envoyer. We’ll roll up the poster to send it by post.
Ses amis ont payé cinquante euros à chacun… Ils se sont fait rouler ! His friends paid fifty euros each… they got conned!
When rouler is intransitive, the verb does not need a direct object to make sense. In other words, the subject is ‘doing’ the action of rouler, rather than doing it to something or someone. Let’s take a closer look:
Le ballon roulait vers moi. The ball was rolling towards me.
Beaucoup de camions roulaient sur l’autoroute. Lots of lorries were going / were driving on the motorway.
Attention ! Elle roule trop vite ! Watch out! She’s going / driving too fast!
À seize heures, le vieux train roulera lentement vers la station. At four o’clock, the old train will trundle towards the station.
After reading our blog on rouler, we hope that you’ve learnt enough about this verb to add it to your French vocabulary. To learn more words, we hope to see you here again next week – you’re on a roll!
Written by Holly Tarbet, freelance copywriter and editor.
All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.
