Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| roter | /ʁɔ.te/ |
| faire un rot | |
| éructer | /e.ʁyk.te/ |
The words in this group all describe the act of emitting gas from the stomach through the mouth. While roter is the standard verb, you may also see related nouns such as rot, renvoi or éructation to describe the burp itself or the sensation of food rising.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily by register and medical precision. roter is the common everyday verb, while faire un rot is a colloquial phrase. The verb éructer is used in formal, literary or medical contexts. Among the nouns, rot refers to a standard burp, whereas renvoi is specifically used in a medical context to describe regurgitation or acid reflux.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
roter is the common, everyday way to say 'to burp' but can be considered slightly impolite in polite company. For a more colloquial tone, you can use the phrase faire un rot. If you need to be formal or clinical, use the verb éructer or the noun éructation, which is the most formal term for a burp.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word roter is pronounced /ʁɔ.te/ and consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The formal verb éructer is sometimes used metaphorically in French literature to describe a volcano or a machine emitting a loud noise.
- The verb roter is etymologically linked to the Latin verb 'ruptare', which means 'to break' or 'to burst'.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi pour cette éructation indiscrète.Excuse me for this impolite burp.
- Oh là là, j'ai fait un énorme rot.Oh my, I just did a massive burp.
- Veuillez pardonner mon rot, cela m'a échappé.Please forgive my burp, it slipped out.
- Il ne faut pas roter à table.You shouldn't burp at the table.
- L'enfant a commencé à roter après son lait.The child started to burp after his milk.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are finishing a soda.
- LucasExcuse-moi, je vais roter.Excuse me, I'm going to burp.
- ManonC'est vraiment dégoûtant, Lucas !That's really disgusting, Lucas!
- LucasDésolé, c'était le gaz du soda.Sorry, it was the gas from the soda.
- ManonC'est bon, je ne t'en veux pas.It's okay, I'm not mad at you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “burp” translations and entries roter, éructer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, rot, roter, un, éructer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
