tuer
/tɥe/
To slay is translated into French as tuer. Wiktionary also lists occire.
Meaning: to kill, murder (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| tuer | /tɥe/ (France) /ty.e/ (France) |
| occire | /ɔk.siʁ/ |
The verb tuer is used to mean to kill or to slay. It is appropriate for both mundane everyday killings and more dramatic, fantastical contexts, such as slaying a dragon or a monster.
Which one should you use?
tuer is the standard verb for to kill or to slay in most contexts. The form occire is an archaic or literary term specifically meaning to slay or to kill, but it is not used in modern spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of tuer is tué, which is used to form the past tense and can also be used to mean 'slain' or 'killed'.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɥe/
Did you know?
- In modern slang, French speakers use tuer in expressions like ça tue to describe something that is incredibly impressive or funny, similar to the English 'slay'.
- The modern French word tuer actually evolved from the Latin word tūtārī, which meant 'to ward off' or 'to protect'.
- The archaic word occire is a cognate of the English word 'occise', though that term is now extremely rare in English.
Examples in context
- Cette lame peut tuer les immortels.This blade can slay immortals.This sentence shows how tuer can be used in a fantasy context regarding immortals.Tatoeba #11570945 by Aiji, translation #13823773 by tieguy
- Nous avons besoin de quelqu'un pour tuer le dragon.We need someone to slay the dragon.This sentence demonstrates the use of tuer when referring to slaying a dragon.Tatoeba #9090732 by lbdx, translation #6108128 by mailohilohi
- Elle est vraiment stylée dans cette tenueShe looks really stylish in that outfit
- Le venin peut tuer un homme.The venom can kill a man.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are discussing a fantasy novel.
- ChloéPourquoi le guerrier veut-il tuer le roi?Why does the warrior want to slay the king?
- GabrielParce que le roi est devenu maléfique.Because the king has become evil.
- ChloéC'est triste de devoir tuer son propre mentor.It is sad to have to slay one's own mentor.
- GabrielOui, mais c'est le seul moyen.Yes, but it is the only way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slay” translations and entries tuer, occire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries occire, tuer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
