Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| traverser | /tʁa.vɛʁ.se/ |
| franchir | /fʁɑ̃.ʃiʁ/ |
The verb is used to describe the action of moving from one side of something to the other, such as moving through a space or across a surface like a street, a room or a forest.
Which one should you use?
While traverser is the standard word for moving from one side to the other, franchir is used when the crossing implies overcoming an obstacle or successfully clearing a barrier, such as a fence or a mountain range.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the rural areas of France, the expression croix de chemin refers to a cross situated at the side of a road or a path.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of traverser is traversé, which is used with the auxiliary verb avoir to form the passé composé.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /tʁa.vɛʁ.se/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the noun croix as a verb. However, croix is only a noun. To express the action of crossing, you must use traverser.
Did you know?
- When French speakers talk about 'crossing' their fingers for luck, they do not use traverser or franchir but say croiser les doigts.
- The word franchir shares its root with the word franc, which originally meant 'free'. This suggests that crossing a barrier was historically linked to the idea of gaining freedom or liberation.
- If you are traversé by a feeling, such as doubt or suspicion, it means that specific emotion is washing over or piercing through your mind.
Examples in context
- Je veux traverser ce pont.I want to cross this bridge.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to cross a bridge using traverser.Tatoeba #8328628 by Aiji, translation #6264554 by CK
- Il va traverser la rivière.He's going to cross the river.This sentence is useful for describing the action of crossing a river using traverser.Tatoeba #1932646 by sacredceltic, translation #1931996 by Spamster
- Je l'ai vu traverser la rue.I saw him cross the street.This sentence is useful for describing the act of seeing someone cross a street using traverser.Tatoeba #127610 by Aiji, translation #260124 by CK
- Le sommet de la montagne est marqué par une croix imposante.The mountain summit is marked by an imposing cross.
- Tournez à gauche au prochain croisement pour rejoindre l'autoroute.Turn left at the next intersection to reach the highway.
- 58 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are walking in a city and reach a large square.
- ManonOn doit traverser cette place maintenant.We must cross this square now.
- HugoEst-ce qu'on peut traverser par là ?Can we cross through there?
- ManonOui, c'est plus rapide pour toi et moi.Yes, it is faster for you and me.
- HugoD'accord, allons-y.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cross” translations and entries traverser, franchir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries franchir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
