frappe
/fʁap/
To hit it in French is frappe.
frappe is used to describe the action of striking something with a hard blow. In certain informal contexts, if you want to encourage someone to "go for it" or "let loose," you might instead use the expression Lâche-toi.
How do you pronounce it?
/fʁap/
Did you know?
- In certain French slang, une frappe can refer to a person who is exceptionally attractive or a piece of high-quality contraband.
- The verb frapper is used to describe the action of knocking on a door, whereas English uses 'hit' for a blow and 'knock' for a door.
- In sports like tennis or football, frapper le ballon is the standard term for hitting or kicking the ball, regardless of whether the foot or a racket is used.
Examples in context
- Frappe la balle très fort.Hit the ball very hard.
- Frappe le clou avec le marteau.Hit the nail with the hammer.
- Frappe la porte pour attirer l'attention.Hit the door to get attention.
Example conversation
Gabriel is trying to fix a stubborn piece of furniture.
- ChloéC'est coincé, Gabriel.It's stuck, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe sais, je n'arrive pas à l'enlever.I know, I can't get it off.
- ChloéPrends le marteau et frappe ici.Take the hammer and hit it here.
- GabrielD'accord, je vais essayer.Okay, I'll try.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry frappe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
