poursuivre
/puʁ.sɥivʁ/
The English phrase "chasing" can be translated into French as poursuivre.
The word poursuivre is used to describe the act of running after someone or something in order to catch them. Beyond this physical movement, it is also used more broadly to mean pursuing a goal, a career or a legal action.
Which one should you use?
While poursuivre is a versatile verb used for both physical chasing and pursuing abstract concepts like goals, the phrase courir après is a more literal way to express the physical act of running after someone or something. Another formal option to convey the idea of chasing is traquer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present participle of poursuivre is poursuivant, and the past participle is poursuivi.
How do you pronounce it?
/puʁ.sɥivʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, poursuivre can describe a continuous action that is not interrupted, such as 'poursuivre une discussion' (to continue a discussion).
- The verb traquer is now commonly used in digital contexts to describe 'tracking' users' data or cookies online.
- The word poursuivre shares an ancestor with the English word 'prosecute', which is why both terms are used in a legal context to mean taking someone to court.
Examples in context
- La police poursuit le voleur dans les rues de Paris.The police are chasing the thief through the streets of Paris.
- Ils traquent les criminels à travers l'Europe.They are chasing criminals across Europe.
- Mon chien court après les écureuils dans le parc.My dog is chasing squirrels in the park.
- La police chasse le suspect dans le centre-ville.The police are chasing the suspect downtown.
- Le chat veut poursuivre la souris.The cat wants to chase the mouse.
- Les policiers doivent poursuivre le voleur.The police must chase the thief.
- Il essaie de poursuivre le bus.He is trying to chase the bus.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are at a park watching a dog.
- EmmaRegarde le chiot poursuivre le ballon !Look at the puppy chasing the ball!
- GabrielIl est vraiment très rapide, Gabriel.He is really very fast, Gabriel.
- EmmaIl adore poursuivre tout ce qui bouge.He loves chasing everything that moves.
- GabrielC'est adorable à regarder.It's adorable to watch.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry poursuivre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poursuivre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
