devenir musclé
To get ripped in French is devenir musclé.
The phrase devenir musclé is a general way to say one is gaining muscle. If you want to describe the specific process of building up your muscles, you can use the reflexive verb se muscler.
Which one should you use?
While devenir musclé means to become muscular, it is a general term that does not strictly guarantee the high level of definition and low body fat implied by the English phrase 'get ripped'. To describe that specific 'ripped' look characterized by low body fat, you can use the colloquial expression être sec, which literally means 'to be dry'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to use slang to say someone is ripped or buff, you can say être baraqué(e). For a more colloquial fitness-specific context, use être sec.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the reflexive verb se muscler to describe the ongoing process of building up one's muscles.
Did you know?
- The word musclé shares its root with the English word 'muscle', both originating from the Latin 'musculus', which means 'little mouse'.
- The slang term baraqué to describe a buff person originally referred to a small hut or shack, implying the person is built like a sturdy little house.
- The word musclé can also be used metaphorically in French to describe an argument or a debate that becomes aggressive or intense.
Examples in context
- Jean-Paul s'est lancé dans une musculation intense pour se bâtir un physique plus développéJean-Paul embarked on intense weightlifting to build a more developed physique
- Marie s'entraîne régulièrement pour obtenir un corps muscléMarie trains regularly to get a muscular body
- Paul s'est mis au sport sérieusement et maintenant, il a des muscles en béton!Paul started taking sports seriously, and now he's got muscles made of concrete
- Julie fait beaucoup de fitness, et maintenant elle est vraiment baraquéeJulie does a lot of fitness, and now she's really ripped
- Anne s'entraîne régulièrement avec des haltères pour avoir des bras musclésAnne trains regularly with dumbbells to have muscular arms
- Hugo s'entraîne dur pour avoir une silhouette muscléeHugo trains hard to have a muscular figure
- Sophie fait beaucoup de sport pour avoir une silhouette muscléeSophie does a lot of sports to have a muscular figure
- Il veut devenir musclé avant l'été.He wants to get ripped before summer.
- Elle travaille dur pour devenir musclée.She is working hard to get ripped.
- Tu vas devenir musclé avec ce programme.You are going to get ripped with this program.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are talking at a gym.
- EmmaTu veux devenir musclé, Gabriel ?Do you want to get ripped, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, je m'entraîne tous les jours.Yes, I train every day.
- EmmaC'est impressionnant, tu es très sérieux.It's impressive, you are very serious.
- GabrielMerci, j'ai de gros objectifs.Thanks, I have big goals.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries devenir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
