se pencher
The English phrase "bend over" is translated into French as se pencher. Wiktionary also lists se replier.
Meaning: to bend one's upper body forward (verb)
Ways to say it
| French |
|---|
| se pencher |
| se replier |
The verb is used to describe the general action of leaning or bending the upper body forward.
Which one should you use?
Use se pencher for the general action of leaning or bending the upper body forward.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a pronominal verb, se pencher requires a reflexive pronoun that must agree with the subject, such as je me penche or tu te penches.
Did you know?
- The verb se pencher shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pendulum', as both stem from the Latin 'pendere', meaning 'to hang'.
- While se pencher describes a physical movement, the phrase se pencher sur un dossier is a common way to say one is 'looking into' or 'studying' a specific matter or file.
- While se pencher describes the physical act of bending, the word penché is also used to describe a biased or slanted point of view in a debate.
Examples in context
- Veuillez vous pencher pour ramasser cet objetPlease bend over to pick up this object
- Je me baisse pour ramasser mes clésI bend down to pick up my keys
- Il faut se pencher pour ramasser la clé.You have to bend over to pick up the key.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bend over” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pencher, replier, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
