How to Say "Hide" in French - How To Say Guide

se cacher

The English verb 'hide' can be translated into French as se cacher.

The phrase is used as an intransitive verb meaning to put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find.

Meaning: (intransitive) put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The verb is reflexive, consisting of the reflexive pronoun se and the verb cacher, which means to hide or to conceal.

Use se cacher when the subject is the one performing the hiding. In contrast, use cacher when the subject is hiding an object or another person.

The root of cacher traces back to the Latin 'coactare', which originally meant to compel or force, rather than to conceal.
In French, the game of 'hide and seek' is called cache-cache, repeating the root of se cacher twice.
French uses the specific noun cachette to describe the secret spot or hiding place where someone uses se cacher.

L'autre refuse de se cacher.
The other one refuses to hide.
This sentence shows the use of se cacher in the context of refusing to hide.
Tatoeba #4470179 by Petrus, translation #4468807 by Vortarulo
Tom n'avait pas à se cacher.
Tom didn't have to hide.
This sentence demonstrates how to use se cacher when expressing that someone did not have to hide.
Tatoeba #4963275 by franlexcois, translation #4666599 by CK
Yanni a décidé de se cacher.
Yanni decided to hide.
This sentence shows the use of se cacher following a decision to hide.
Tatoeba #11756758 by Amastan, translation #9995484 by Amastan
Il est important de cacher notre surprise lors de l'annonce de la promotion.
It is important to hide our surprise during the promotion announcement.
Les espions restent cachés pour éviter d'être découverts.
The spies stay hidden to avoid being discovered.
On a planqué les cadeaux dans le placard pour qu'ils ne voient rien.
We hid the gifts in the closet so they wouldn't see anything.
Je vais filer à l'anglaise avant qu'ils me remarquent.
I'm going to sneak away before they notice me.
10 more sentences on Tatoeba

Manon and Gabriel are playing hide-and-seek.

Manon

Où vas-tu se cacher, Gabriel ?
Where are you going to hide, Gabriel?
Gabriel

Je vais me cacher derrière le rideau.
I am going to hide behind the curtain.
Manon

C'est trop facile de se cacher là !
It's too easy to hide there!
Gabriel

Tais-toi et commence à compter.
Be quiet and start counting.

Sources

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