avaler
/a.va.le/
To swallow in French is avaler.
Avaler is used to describe the action of causing something to pass from the mouth into the stomach. If you are referring to the physical act of swallowing food or drink in a formal context, you might use the term Déglutition. In an informal, idiomatic sense, the verb gober is used to mean swallowing something by believing it without any questioning.
Meaning: to cause to pass from the mouth into the stomach (verb)
Which one should you use?
While avaler is the verb for the action of swallowing, if you are referring to the bird known as a swallow, you should use the noun hirondelle. Additionally, gorgée or avalée may be used when referring to an amount that has been swallowed.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of avaler is avalé, and the first-person singular future tense is avalerai.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /a.va.le/.
Did you know?
- If someone tells you to avaler des couleuvres, they are not suggesting you eat snakes, but rather that you should accept something unpleasant or false without protest.
- In French, the verb avaler shares a root with the word for 'downstream', suggesting that swallowing is viewed as a physical movement of food flowing 'downriver' into the stomach.
- While avaler is a physical action, the verb gober specifically describes swallowing something whole, like a frog, which is why it is used for people who 'swallow' a lie or a trick.
Examples in context
- La pilule a été dure à avaler.It was a tough pill to swallow.This sentence shows how to use avaler in the context of a difficult pill.Tatoeba #11404883 by lbdx, translation #6635470 by Hybrid
- Ce fut une amère pilule à avaler.It was a bitter pill to swallow.This sentence shows how to use avaler when describing a bitter pill.Tatoeba #3690707 by sacredceltic, translation #3686631 by Hybrid
- La pilule est difficile à avaler.That's a hard pill to swallow.This sentence shows how to use avaler regarding a pill that is difficult to swallow.Tatoeba #12335986 by lbdx, translation #8526133 by CK
- Il a avalé la pilule.He swallowed the pill
- Le processus d'ingestion.The process of swallowing
- La déglutition devient difficile lorsque vous avez mal à la gorge.Swallowing becomes difficult when you have a sore throat
- Il a gobé l'excuse ridicule.He swallowed the ridiculous excuse
- Elle a avalé une pilule amère.She swallowed a bitter pill.
- Je ne peux pas gober ce mensonge.I can't swallow this lie.
- Nous devons apprendre à ravaler notre fierté.We need to learn how to swallow our pride.
- L'oiseau a gobé le ver.The bird swallowed the worm.
- Il a avalé sa colère et est resté calme.He swallowed his anger and remained calm.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are having breakfast together.
- ManonTu n'arrives pas à avaler ton pain ?Can't you swallow your bread?
- LucasNon, il est trop sec.No, it is too dry.
- ManonEssaie de l'avaler avec un peu d'eau.Try to swallow it with some water.
- LucasOui, c'est une bonne idée.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swallow” translations and entries avaler, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avaler, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
