levier
/lə.vje/masculine
The English phrase lever can be translated into French as levier or manette.
Meaning: small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| levier | /lə.vje/ | masculine |
| manette | /ma.nɛt/ | feminine |
levier refers to a small piece used to trigger or control a mechanical device. In an idiomatic sense, the term effet de levier is used to express the concept of leverage in both physics and finance.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /lə.vje/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In modern French gaming culture, a manette refers specifically to a game controller. You would never use levier to describe the device used to play a video game.
- The word manette is a diminutive of main meaning 'hand'. It literally describes a 'little hand' that the user grips to control a machine.
- If you are talking about a lever used in a very old-fashioned sense, such as a crowbar, a French speaker might use the word pied-de-biche instead.
Examples in context
- L'effet de levier est aux dettes ce que le levier est à quoi ?Leverage is to debt as lever is to what?This sentence illustrates the use of the term 'levier' in a comparison involving leverage.Tatoeba #2027719 by sacredceltic, translation #2027678 by halfb1t
- Tu peux ajuster la hauteur du siège en utilisant le levier de réglage.You can adjust the seat height by moving the adjustment lever up.This sentence shows how to use 'levier' when describing adjusting a seat height.Tatoeba #727211 by U2FS, translation #329211 by fcbond
- Tom plaça deux tranches de pain dans le grille-pain et appuya sur le levier.Tom put two slices of bread into the toaster and pushed down on the lever.This sentence demonstrates using 'levier' in the context of operating a toaster.Tatoeba #4545011 by Whidou, translation #4540943 by Hybrid
- Assurez-vous de bien positionner le levier avant de le pousser.Make sure to position the lever correctly before pushing it.
- Pour actionner la machine, il faut simplement appuyer sur le bras de levier.To operate the machine, you just have to press the lever arm.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are looking at an old machine in a workshop.
- ManonIl faut tirer ce levier pour démarrer.You have to pull this lever to start it.
- LucasEst-ce que le levier est bloqué ?Is the lever stuck?
- ManonNon, il est juste un peu dur.No, it is just a bit stiff.
- LucasJe vais essayer de le bouger.I will try to move it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lever” translations and entries levier, manette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries levier, manette, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
