marche
/maʁʃ/feminine
The English phrase 'walking' can be translated into French using marche. Wiktionary also lists randonnée and marche à pied.
Meaning: gerund of walk (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marche | /maʁʃ/ | feminine |
| randonnée | /ʁɑ̃.dɔ.ne/ | feminine |
| marche à pied | /maʁ.ʃ‿a pje/ | feminine |
The infinitive verb form is marcher. Déambuler is a formal verb that suggests strolling or walking leisurely. Se balader is an informal expression meaning to go for a walk. Se taper une marche is a colloquial expression that roughly translates to to go for a walk.
Which one should you use?
Use randonnée when referring to walking as a recreational activity or a hike in nature. Use marche à pied to specify that one is traveling by foot, often to contrast with driving or cycling.
How do you pronounce it?
/maʁʃ/
Did you know?
- The colloquial phrase se taper une marche uses the verb taper, which literally means 'to hit' or 'to knock'. This usage implies that the walk is an effort or a challenge to be conquered.
- The French word marche is a homonym that also means 'step', 'stair', or 'gear' in a machine. It can even refer to the 'process' or 'progress' of a system.
- In French, faire une marche can refer to a political protest or a demonstration, such as the 'marches for women'. Here, walking becomes a symbol of collective action.
Examples in context
- Je marche à son côté.I'm walking beside her.This sentence is useful for practicing the form marche.Tatoeba #1291911 by sacredceltic, translation #321936 by CM
- Tu marches trop vite.You're walking too fast.Tatoeba #11754956 by Aiji, translation #6867767 by CK
- J'ai envie de marcher.I feel like walking.Tatoeba #2416739 by sacredceltic, translation #2326007 by CK
- Nous devons marcher jusqu'à la destination.We must walk to the destination.
- Le jardin est un lieu parfait pour déambuler tranquillement.The garden is a perfect place for leisurely walking.
- Il est agréable de se promener le long de la plage.It's pleasant to walk along the beach.
- Nous pourrions faire une promenade après le dîner.We could take a stroll after dinner.
- On peut marcher jusqu'à la station de métro.We can walk to the subway station.
- Je vais me balader au parc cet après-midi.I'm going for a walk in the park this afternoon.
- J'aime promener mon chien tous les soirs.I enjoy walking my dog every evening.
- On se tape une petite marche ce soir ?Shall we go for a little walk tonight?
- Arrête de te pavaner, tout le monde te regarde.Stop strutting around, everyone is watching you.
- 125 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are planning a weekend activity.
- ChloéLa marche est une bonne idée pour ce week-end.Walking is a good idea for this weekend.
- LucasOui, j'adore la marche en forêt.Yes, I love walking in the forest.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu veux aller dans la montagne ?Do you want to go to the mountains?
- LucasC'est une excellente proposition, Chloé.That is an excellent suggestion, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “walking” translations and entries marche, randonnée, marche à pied, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
