boucher
/bu.ʃe/
The English verb "to block" can be translated into French as boucher. Wiktionary also lists obstruer.
Meaning: to fill, making it impossible to pass (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| boucher | /bu.ʃe/ |
| obstruer | /ɔp.stʁy.e/ |
When you mean to fill something so that it is impossible to pass, you use the verb boucher or obstruer. The past participle bouché can be used as an adjective to describe something that is blocked, such as a pipe or a nose.
Which one should you use?
boucher is the common, everyday term used for things like a clogged sink or a blocked nose. In contrast, obstruer is used in more formal, technical or medical contexts to describe an obstruction in a passage or a view.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word boucher is pronounced /bu.ʃe/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word boucher also means 'butcher'. This creates a linguistic overlap between someone who blocks a pipe and someone who prepares meat.
- The term bouchon refers to both a 'bottle cork' and a 'traffic jam'.
- While you might expect a 'jam' to be called a 'bouchon', in certain French contexts, a 'bouchon' can also refer to a small, crowded restaurant or bistro.
Examples in context
- bloc de boisblock of wood
- Le sable peut boucher le tuyau.The sand can block the pipe.
- Ne laisse pas les feuilles boucher l'évier.Don't let the leaves block the sink.
- Les débris vont boucher la route.The debris will block the road.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking in the kitchen about a plumbing issue.
- LéaLucas, l'eau ne s'écoule plus.Lucas, the water is not draining anymore.
- LucasEst-ce que quelque chose a pu boucher le drain ?Could something have blocked the drain?
- LéaOui, je crois que c'est le marc de café.Yes, I think it is the coffee grounds.
- LucasJe vais essayer de le déboucher tout de suite.I will try to unblock it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “block” translations and entries boucher, obstruer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
