ramasser
/ʁa.ma.se/
To pick up in French is ramasser.
Ramasser is used to mean to lift, grasp or raise something. While it describes the action of picking something up, other expressions may be more appropriate depending on the context: aller chercher is a versatile way to say "go get" something or someone and attraper is an informal way to say "grab" or "pick up" an object.
Meaning: to lift, to grasp and raise (verb)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between ramasser and soulever. Use ramasser when you are picking something up from a surface, such as the floor. Use soulever if your focus is specifically on the physical act of lifting a heavy weight upward.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of ramasser is ramassé.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa.ma.se/
Did you know?
- If you are 'picking up' a person in a fight in French slang, you might hear the term ramasser, which implies knocking them down or hitting them hard.
- In very informal French, se faire ramasser can mean getting severely scolded or beaten by an authority figure.
- The word ramasser is built from the root of amasser, which means to amass or collect a large quantity of something, like wealth or data.
Examples in context
- Le maréchal-ferrant employa les pinces pour ramasser le fer du cheval.The smith used the tongs to pick up the horseshoe.This sentence shows the use of ramasser in the context of a smith using tongs to pick up iron.Tatoeba #2329298 by sacredceltic, translation #2327491 by Hybrid
- À la seconde où le facteur passe, il fonce dehors pour ramasser son courrier.The second the mailman comes, he rushes out to pick up his mail.This sentence illustrates using ramasser when picking up mail from a mailman.Tatoeba #5094195 by sacredceltic, translation #324563 by CM
- Je voudrais ramasser ce document, s'il vous plaît.I would like to pick up this document, please.
- Puis-je récupérer mon colis à la réception?Can I pick up my package at the reception?
- Je dois prendre mes médicaments à la pharmacie.I need to pick up my medication at the pharmacy.
- On va choper des pizzas avant la soirée?Shall we pick up some pizzas before the party?
- Je peux aller chercher tes affaires à la gare si tu veux.I can pick up your belongings at the station if you want.
- Est-ce que tu peux attraper cette bouteille pour moi, s'il te plaît?Can you pick up/grab that bottle for me, please?
- Je vais chercher mon ami à l'aéroport.I'm going to pick up my friend at the airport.
- J'ai récupéré les clés de la voiture au bureau.I picked up the car keys at the office.
- Il faut ramasser les feuilles mortes dans le jardin.The dead leaves in the garden need to be picked up.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are cleaning up the living room.
- LucasEmma, peux-tu ramasser tes livres sur le sol ?Emma, can you pick up your books from the floor?
- EmmaOui, je les ramasse tout de suite.Yes, I am picking them up right now.
- LucasMerci, le salon est beaucoup plus ordonné.Thanks, the living room is much more tidy.
- EmmaDe rien, Lucas.You're welcome, Lucas.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ramasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ramasser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
