faire du vélo
To ride a bike in French is faire du vélo.
The most common way to say you are riding a bike is to use faire du vélo. If you want to focus specifically on the physical action of pedaling, you can use the verb Pédaler.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, faire du vélo translates to 'to do some bike'.
Which one should you use?
While faire du vélo is the most common expression, Pédaler is used when the focus is specifically on the act of pedaling. If you are referring to cycling as a sport or in a professional context, you might use Pratiquer le cyclisme. To describe using a bike specifically as a means of transportation, use Se déplacer à vélo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase faire du vélo uses the masculine noun vélo and the partitive article du (a contraction of de + le), which implies performing the activity of riding a bike in general rather than focusing on one specific, singular object.
Did you know?
- While faire du vélo is general, the specific verb pédaler is often used metaphorically in French to describe working hard or struggling to keep up with a task.
- In some contexts, French speakers might use rouler to describe riding a bike, which literally means 'to roll'.
- The word vélo is actually a shortened version of the older word vélocipède, which is now considered obsolete.
Examples in context
- Je préfère faire du vélo.I prefer to ride a bike.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference.Tatoeba #4678705 by sacredceltic, translation #3749920 by gin
- Je ne sais pas faire du vélo.I can't ride a bike.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to ride a bike.Tatoeba #11242265 by lbdx, translation #5958511 by CK
- Tom ne sait pas faire du vélo.Tom isn't able to ride a bike.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone else is unable to ride a bike.Tatoeba #5013848 by Sittelle, translation #7520403 by CK
- On pourrait aller faire du vélo ce week-end.We could go ride a bike this weekend.
- Il se déplace à vélo pour se rendre au travail.He commutes by bike to go to work.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are planning their weekend activities in the park.
- LéaEst-ce que tu veux faire du vélo avec moi ?Do you want to ride a bike with me?
- GabrielOui, j'adore faire du vélo le dimanche.Yes, I love riding a bike on Sundays.
- LéaC'est une excellente idée, Gabriel.That is an excellent idea, Gabriel.
- GabrielOn part quand ?When are we leaving?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, faire, vélo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
