sauter à cloche-pied
To hop in French is sauter à cloche-pied.
The phrase sauter à cloche-pied is used to describe the action of jumping a short distance.
Meaning: jump a short distance (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression sauter à cloche-pied literally means 'to jump on one foot' because cloche-pied refers to a one-legged person or a hop.
Related words
Did you know?
- The word cloche in cloche-pied refers to a bell, but in this context, it is part of an old term for a wooden leg or a stump.
- In French culinary terms, sauter is the root of 'sauté', which refers to food being tossed or jumped in a pan over high heat.
- In French slang, sauter can be used to mean that a piece of electronic equipment has 'blown' or stopped working, such as a fuse.
Examples in context
- Veuillez sauter par-dessus l'obstaclePlease hop over the obstacle
- Monte dans le trainHop on the train
- Passe par-dessus l'obstacleHop over the obstacle
- Monte dans la voiture rapidementHop into the car
- L'enfant aime sauter à cloche-pied.The child likes to hop on one foot.
- Peux-tu sauter à cloche-pied jusqu'ici ?Can you hop on one foot over here?
- Elle doit sauter à cloche-pied pour gagner.She has to hop on one foot to win.
Example conversation
Two children are playing a game in a park.
- LucasEmma, regarde, je peux sauter à cloche-pied !Emma, look, I can hop on one foot!
- EmmaC'est impressionnant, Lucas.That is impressive, Lucas.
- LucasEst-ce que tu veux essayer ?Do you want to try?
- EmmaNon, je préfère marcher normalement.No, I prefer walking normally.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hop” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
