Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| duper | /dy.pe/ /dzʏ.pe/ (Quebec) |
|
| tromper | /tʁɔ̃.pe/ | |
| rouler | /ʁu.le/ | colloquial |
The English verb to trick, meaning to fool someone or cause them to believe something untrue, can be translated using several different French words depending on the context. If you are referring to the concept of deception or fraud in a serious or legal context, the noun tromperie is often used.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb depends on the desired tone. tromper is the standard, neutral verb for deceiving or tricking someone. rouler is a colloquial way to express the same idea. It is important to note that if you are referring to a magic trick, you should use the noun tour rather than these verbs. Similarly, if you mean a clever trick, a tip or a 'thing', use the noun truc.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tromper is the standard and neutral form suitable for most situations. rouler is colloquial and should be used in informal speech. For more serious or formal discussions involving fraud, the term tromperie is preferred.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/dy.pe/
When do people say it?
In informal French, to express the idea of taking someone for a fool, you can use the phrase prendre quelqu'un pour un pigeon.
Did you know?
- The word duper comes from the Old French huppeder, which is related to the 'hoopoe' bird. This suggests that the act of tricking was once linked to the strange appearance or behavior of this bird.
- In French, tromper is used for both 'to trick' and 'to cheat' in a romantic relationship. English requires two different words, but French uses the same term for both types of betrayal.
- When you use the colloquial verb rouler to mean 'to trick' someone, you are literally using the verb that means 'to roll'.
Examples in context
- Il a essayé de me rouler.He tried to trick me.This sentence shows how to use the colloquial form rouler.Tatoeba #747339 by Cocorico, translation #3679004 by Theocracy
- N'essaie pas de me tromper.Don't try to trick me.This sentence shows the use of the standard verb tromper.Tatoeba #2355089 by Amastan, translation #2275352 by CK
- Je n'essayais pas de te rouler.I wasn't trying to trick you.This sentence demonstrates the use of the colloquial form rouler.Tatoeba #10758657 by lbdx, translation #3367406 by Hybrid
- Il s'est rendu compte de la supercherie trop tard.He realized the trickery too late.
- Elle a utilisé une astuce pour résoudre le problème rapidement.She used a trick to quickly solve the problem.
- Les enfants ont joué un petit tour à leur professeur.The children played a little trick on their teacher.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is explaining a magic trick to Léa.
- NathanJe ne veux pas te duper.I do not want to fool you.
- LéaC'est un tour de magie, n'est-ce pas ?It is a magic trick, isn't it?
- NathanOui, regarde bien mes mains.Yes, watch my hands closely.
- LéaC'est incroyable, Nathan !It is incredible, Nathan!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “trick” translations and entries duper, tromper, rouler, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries duper, rouler, tromper, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
