gratter
/ɡʁa.te/
The English verb scratch is translated into French as gratter.
gratter is used to describe the action of scratching or scraping, whether you are scratching skin or scraping a surface such as a chalkboard or a floor.
Meaning: dig or scrape with claws or fingernails with the intention to injure (verb)
Which one should you use?
The verb gratter describes the action itself, while the nouns éraflure and égratignure are used to refer to the resulting mark, wound or scrape left behind.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are scratching your own body, you should use the reflexive form se gratter to mean 'to scratch oneself'.
How do you pronounce it?
gratter is pronounced /ɡʁa.te/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The phrase gratter la guitare is a common colloquialism meaning to play the guitar, often implying a casual or amateur style of playing.
- In French, the term gratter can also be used colloquially to mean 'to steal' or 'to pilfer' something, much like the English slang 'to lift'.
- The French verb gratter shares a common ancestor with the English word 'rake', as both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root describing a scraping motion.
Examples in context
- Ne pas gratter !Don't scratch yourself!This sentence is useful for learning the imperative command not to scratch.Tatoeba #7477612 by Micsmithel, translation #7348631 by natema
- J'ai envie de me gratter le nez.I want to scratch my nose.This sentence shows how to express an urge to scratch a specific body part.Tatoeba #3670087 by sacredceltic, translation #1205633 by CK
- Les ours aiment se gratter le dos sur l'écorce des arbres.Bears like to scratch their back on tree bark.This sentence illustrates the action of an animal scratching itself against a surface.Tatoeba #809225 by sacredceltic, translation #676313 by darinmex
- Je me suis égratigné/ée en tombant de vélo.I scratched myself falling off the bike.
- J'ai écorché ma main en ouvrant ce paquet.I scratched my hand while opening that package.
- J'ai réussi à rayer ma nouvelle voiture.I managed to scratch my new car.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking about a cat that is angry.
- LucasAttention, le chat peut gratter !Careful, the cat might scratch!
- ManonIl a l'air très nerveux.He looks very nervous.
- LucasNe le touche pas s'il veut gratter.Don't touch him if he wants to scratch.
- ManonD'accord, je reste loin de lui.Okay, I will stay away from him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gratter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gratter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
