rêvasser
/ʁɛ.va.se/
The French verb for 'daydream' is rêvasser.
rêvasser is used to describe the act of daydreaming or having a spontaneous, fanciful series of thoughts.
Meaning: a spontaneous and fanciful series of thoughts (noun)
Which one should you use?
While rêver means 'to dream' (referring to dreaming while sleeping or in a general sense), rêvasser specifically implies the act of idling or daydreaming while awake.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
rêvasser is a regular '-er' verb. In the present tense, the first-person singular form (I daydream) is rêvasse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɛ.va.se/
Did you know?
- In French, if you are 'rêvasser', you are often described as being 'dans la lune', which translates to being 'in the moon'.
- The term 'rêvasser' is often associated with 'la flânerie', the art of aimless strolling, where both daydreaming and wandering are seen as ways to pass time without purpose.
- The verb rêvasser is an example of a frequentative verb, where the suffix indicates an action that is repeated or prolonged over time.
Examples in context
- J'ai parfois des moments de rêverie où je laisse mon esprit vagabonder.I sometimes have moments of daydreaming where I let my mind wander.
- Elle était plongée dans un profond songe lorsque je l'ai interrompue.She was immersed in a deep daydream when I interrupted her.
- J'adore flâner dans les rues de Paris et rêver de mon prochain voyage.I love strolling the streets of Paris and daydreaming about my next trip.
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are sitting in a quiet library.
- ManonTu écoutes, Nathan ?Are you listening, Nathan?
- NathanDésolé, je me suis mis à rêvasser.Sorry, I started daydreaming.
- ManonÀ quoi pensais-tu ?What were you thinking about?
- NathanÀ mes prochaines vacances.About my next vacation.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rêvasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
