tondre la pelouse
To cut the grass in French is tondre la pelouse.
This phrase is used when you use a machine or tool to shorten the grass in a lawn. While tondre la pelouse specifically refers to a manicured lawn, you can also use tondre l'herbe as a common way to say 'cut the grass' more generally.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tondre la pelouse is composed of the verb tondre (to mow) and la pelouse (the lawn).
Which one should you use?
tondre la pelouse is used when referring specifically to a manicured lawn, whereas tondre l'herbe is used for cutting grass in a more general sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of the verb tondre is tondu, meaning 'mown'.
Did you know?
- The verb tondre is used not only for lawns but also for shearing sheep. This is why a 'sheep-shearer' in French is called a tondeur.
- The word pelouse comes from the Latin word 'pilosus', meaning 'hairy' or 'thickset', which describes the dense, fuzzy texture of a healthy lawn.
- In some French-speaking regions, particularly in parts of Canada, you might hear people use the expression passer la tondeuse which literally means 'to pass the mower' instead of using a verb to describe the action.
Examples in context
- Il est temps de tondre la pelouse avant l'arrivée des invités.It's time to cut the grass before the guests arrive.
- Je vais engager quelqu'un pour tondre la pelouse chaque semaine.I'm going to hire someone to cut the grass every week.
- Nous devons couper l'herbe du jardin demain matin.We need to cut the grass in the garden tomorrow morning.
- Le jardinier est venu pour couper l'herbe et tailler les haies.The gardener came to cut the grass and trim the hedges.
- Je vais sortir pour tondre le gazon cet après-midi.I'm going to go out and cut the grass this afternoon.
- Tu devrais tondre le gazon avant que ça ne devienne trop haut.You should cut the grass before it gets too high.
- Nous avons invité les voisins pour tailler l'herbe tous ensemble ce week-end.We invited the neighbors to cut the grass together this weekend.
- Je dois tondre la pelouse ce week-end.I have to mow the lawn this weekend.
- Je dois tondre la pelouse ce matin.I have to cut the grass this morning.
- Il est temps de tondre la pelouse.It is time to cut the grass.
- Peux-tu tondre la pelouse demain ?Can you cut the grass tomorrow?
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are talking in the garden.
- LéaNathan, tu peux tondre la pelouse s'il te plaît ?Nathan, can you cut the grass please?
- NathanBien sûr, je vais le faire maintenant.Of course, I will do it now.
- LéaMerci, elle devient vraiment trop haute.Thanks, it is getting really too long.
- NathanPas de problème, je m'en occupe.No problem, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, pelouse, tondre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
