mâcher
/ma.ʃe/
The English phrase "chew" is translated into French as mâcher. Wiktionary also lists mordiller and mastiquer.
Meaning: to crush food with teeth prior to swallowing (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| mâcher | /ma.ʃe/ /mɑ.ʃe/ |
| mordiller | /mɔʁ.di.je/ |
| mastiquer | /mas.ti.ke/ |
The verb refers to the action of crushing food with teeth prior to swallowing.
Which one should you use?
While mâcher is the standard everyday word, mastiquer is a more formal or technical term used to describe the physiological process of chewing. mordiller is another form available in French.
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.ʃe/
Did you know?
- In French slang, the expression mâcher son travail means to do a job halfway or to oversimplify a task to make it easier for someone else.
- The verbs mâcher and mastiquer are doublets, meaning they both originate from the same Latin root masticāre but entered the language through different paths.
- While mâcher refers to the physical act of chewing, it is also used in the French expression mâcher les mots, which means to speak unclearly or to mumble.
Examples in context
- J'ai du mal à mâcher.It is hard for me to chew.This sentence is useful for expressing difficulty with the action of mâcher.Tatoeba #1337111 by sacredceltic, translation #2566204 by VirtuOZ
- Je ne peux pas mâcher. Je n'ai pas de dents.I cannot chew. I do not have teeth.This sentence is useful for explaining an inability to mâcher due to a lack of teeth.Tatoeba #11229499 by lbdx, translation #2682232 by sabretou
- Il ne peut pas bien mâcher parce qu'il a mal aux dents, en ce moment.He can't chew well, because he has a toothache now.This sentence is useful for explaining why someone cannot mâcher well due to a toothache.Tatoeba #130771 by sacredceltic, translation #289263 by CM
- Il est important de bien mâcher les aliments pour faciliter la digestion.It is important to chew food well to facilitate digestion.
- J'adore croquer les pommes bien juteuses.I love chewing on juicy apples.
- Au Québec, il est courant de chiquer de la gomme lorsqu'on a besoin de se relaxer.In Quebec, it is common to chew gum when you need to relax.
- Les enfants aiment beaucoup mâcher du chewing-gum.Children really enjoy chewing gum.
- Il est conseillé de bien mâcher la nourriture pour éviter les problèmes de digestion.It is recommended to chew food well to avoid digestion problems.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are eating at a restaurant.
- NathanIl faut bien mâcher sa viande.You have to chew your meat well.
- LéaOui, elle est un peu dure.Yes, it is a bit tough.
- NathanPrends ton temps pour mâcher.Take your time to chew.
- LéaD'accord, Nathan, je vais y faire attention.Okay, Nathan, I will pay attention to that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chew” translations and entries mâcher, mordiller, mastiquer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mastiquer, mordiller, mâcher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
