rater
/ʁa.te/
The French phrase for "miss it" is rater.
The verb rater is used specifically for missing an event, a deadline or an opportunity, rather than missing a person or a place.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the phrase s'ennuyer de is commonly used to express missing someone or something.
How does it change in a sentence?
When 'it' refers to a masculine noun or a general event, the direct object pronoun 'le' is placed before the verb le rater. When 'it' refers to a feminine noun, the direct object pronoun 'la' is used instead of 'le' la rater.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa.te/
Did you know?
- The verb rater likely shares a strange history with the word 'rat', originating from the 17th-century expression prendre un rat, which literally meant 'to catch a rat' but actually described a gun misfiring.
- The verb rater is so versatile that it can be used to describe a 'failed' cake or a 'botched' recipe, as in un gâteau raté.
- The idea of 'missing' something in French is often tied to the concept of 'failure' rather than the concept of 'absence' or 'longing'.
Examples in context
- Je ne veux pas rater ça.I don't want to miss it.This sentence shows how to use rater.Tatoeba #12937862 by lbdx, translation #8003987 by adiante19
- Je ne le raterais pour rien au monde.I would not miss it for anything.This sentence demonstrates the use of rater.Tatoeba #6634429 by GB3, translation #6620806 by Hybrid
- Vous ne pouvez pas le rater.You can't miss it.Tatoeba #431199 by JnRouvignac, translation #52103 by CK
- Mes parents me manquent.I miss my parents.
- Le soleil me manque en hiver.I miss the sun in winter.
- Ça me manque terriblementI miss it terribly
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking about a film screening at the cinema.
- EmmaC'est un film incroyable, il ne faut pas rater ça.It's an incredible movie, you shouldn't miss it.
- NathanTu as raison, je vais essayer de ne pas le rater.You are right, I will try not to miss it.
- EmmaOn y va demain soir pour ne pas rater ça ?Shall we go tomorrow night so we don't miss it?
- NathanD'accord, je ne veux surtout pas rater ça.Okay, I definitely don't want to miss it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rater, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rater, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
