bosse
/bɔs/
In French, "bump" is translated as bosse.
The word bosse is used to describe both a physical bump on a road and a swelling or bump on a person's body, such as on the head.
Meaning: a light blow or jolting collision (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun bosse is feminine and is typically preceded by the indefinite article une.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔs/
Did you know?
- The verb form bosser is a very common piece of French slang that actually means 'to work hard', rather than 'to bump'.
- Historically, the word bosse relates to the concept of phrenology, where people believed a bump on the skull revealed a person's character.
- The word bosse shares an ancestral lineage with the Italian word boccia, which is used in certain ball games.
Examples in context
- Tom a roulé sur une bosse.Tom drove over a bump.This sentence is useful for describing driving over a bosse.Tatoeba #8700535 by Julien_PDC, translation #8684484 by AlanF_US
- C'est juste une bosse sur la route.This is just a bump in the road.This sentence is useful for describing a bosse on a road.Tatoeba #9941732 by lbdx, translation #6583487 by Eccles17
- Sacha avait une énorme bosse sur la tête.Sasha had a huge bump on his head.This sentence is useful for describing a bosse on a person's head.Tatoeba #748473 by Cocorico, translation #576644 by FeuDRenais2
- Attention à la bosse sur la route!Watch out for the bump on the road!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is examining a small dent in his car.
- LéaQu'est-ce que c'est ?What is it?
- HugoC'est une petite bosse sur la portière.It's a small bump on the door.
- LéaEst-ce que c'est grave ?Is it serious?
- HugoNon, c'est juste une bosse.No, it's just a bump.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bosse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bosse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
