attrapé un rhume
The English phrase "caught a cold" is translated into French as attrapé un rhume.
This phrase is used to describe the act of becoming infected with a common viral illness that affects the nose and throat.
What does it mean word for word?
The term attrapé is the past participle of the verb attraper, which literally means to catch or to trap. The noun rhume means a cold, and because it is a masculine noun, it is preceded by the masculine article un.
Which one should you use?
While attrapé un rhume focuses on the specific moment of becoming infected, the phrase avoir un rhume is used to describe the ongoing state of currently suffering from a cold.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you have caught a cold, you use the auxiliary verb avoir (to have) with the past participle attrapé (as seen in the structure avoir attrapé un rhume).
Did you know?
- To describe a very bad cold, French speakers often refer to it as un gros rhume, literally calling the illness 'fat' or 'big'.
- In French, you do not 'catch' a chill using the word rhume, but instead use the phrase prendre froid, which literally means 'to take cold'.
- The word rhume comes from the Ancient Greek word rheûma, which means 'a flowing'. This refers to the runny nose that typically accompanies a cold.
Examples in context
- J'ai attrapé un rhume.I have caught a cold.This sentence is useful for stating that you have caught a cold.Tatoeba #6507 by TRANG, translation #257622 by CK
- On dirait que j'ai attrapé un rhume.It looks like I've caught a cold.This sentence is useful for saying it looks like you have caught a cold.Tatoeba #10512405 by lbdx, translation #9251004 by CK
- J'ai attrapé un rhume il y a deux jours.I caught a cold two days ago.This sentence is useful for stating that you caught a cold two days ago.Tatoeba #1347142 by sacredceltic, translation #280989 by CK
- J'ai chopé un rhume hier et je me sens vraiment patraque aujourd'hui.I caught a cold yesterday, and I feel really under the weather today.
- Mon nez coule sans arrêt, j'ai vraiment la crève !My nose won't stop running, I've got a heavy cold!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon is explaining why she is staying home from work.
- ManonJe ne peux pas venir, j'ai attrapé un rhume.I can't come, I caught a cold.
- HugoC'est dommage. Est-ce que tu as de la fièvre ?That's too bad. Do you have a fever?
- ManonNon, mais j'ai attrapé un rhume très fort.No, but I caught a very bad cold.
- HugoRepose-toi bien, Manon.Get some good rest, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rhume, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
