Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| goutter | /ɡu.te/ |
| goutteler | /ɡut.le/ |
| tomber goutte à goutte |
The verb describes the action of a liquid falling in individual drops. You may use the specific verb goutter, the variant goutteler or the descriptive phrase tomber goutte à goutte. Additionally, the noun goutte-à-goutte refers to a medical intravenous drip or an apparatus that slowly releases a liquid.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tomber goutte à goutte is built from the verb tomber (to fall), the noun goutte (drop) and the preposition à (by/with), literally meaning 'to fall drop by drop'.
Which one should you use?
goutter is often used in a more technical or formal sense to describe the action of a liquid dripping, whereas the phrase tomber goutte à goutte is more common in descriptive, everyday speech. The noun goutte-à-goutte is a specific term used in medical or technical contexts to refer to an intravenous drip or a device that releases liquid drop by drop.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡu.te/
Did you know?
- The word tomber used to mean 'to dance' or 'to leap' in Old French. It is a linguistic evolution from physical movements like somersaults to the current meaning of 'to fall'.
- While goutte-à-goutte is used for medical drips, French also uses it to describe the specific slow-release irrigation method in gardening.
- The word goutte can be used figuratively in French to describe a tiny amount of something, similar to the English 'a drop in the bucket'.
Examples in context
- Le robinet commence à goutter.The faucet is starting to drip.
- La peinture ne doit pas goutter sur le sol.The paint must not drip onto the floor.
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are in the kitchen looking at a leaky sink.
- EmmaLucas, regarde, le robinet se met à goutter.Lucas, look, the faucet is starting to drip.
- LucasTu as raison, il faut le réparer.You're right, it needs to be fixed.
- EmmaEst-ce que l'eau va goutter partout ?Is the water going to drip everywhere?
- LucasNon, je vais mettre une bassine sous le robinet.No, I will put a basin under the faucet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drip” translations and entries goutter, goutteler, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries goutte, goutteler, tomber, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
