zoomer
/zu.me/
The English phrase 'zoom in' can be translated into French as zoomer.
In a digital context, zoomer is used for both zooming in and zooming out, though dézoomer is often used specifically for zooming out.
Meaning: to manipulate a display so as to make it larger (verb)
Which one should you use?
Zoom avant means 'zoom in', whereas zoomer means 'to zoom'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb zoomer is typically followed by the preposition sur when specifying the object or area being zoomed in on.
How do you pronounce it?
/zu.me/
Did you know?
- In French slang, the word zoomer can also refer to a person belonging to 'Generation Z', a way of describing young people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s.
- The term zoom is an example of an English loanword that became so integrated into French that it spawned its own opposite, dézoomer, which does not exist in standard English.
- While zoomer describes the digital action, the French use the phrase faire un gros plan when talking about a 'close-up' shot in cinema or photography.
Examples in context
- Double-clique sur la carte pour zoomer sur un endroit.Double click the map to zoom in on a place.This sentence shows how to use zoomer to specify a location on a map.Tatoeba #9699159 by lbdx, translation #2451742 by orcrist
- Pour illustrer ce point spécifique, veuillez effectuer un zoom avant sur le graphique affiché à l'écran.To illustrate this specific point, please zoom in on the graph displayed on the screen.
- Regarde cette photo de près, agrandis-la pour voir les détails.Look at this photo closely, zoom in on it to see the details.
- On peut zoomer sur la photo.We can zoom in on the photo.
- Il faut zoomer pour voir les détails.You need to zoom in to see the details.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are looking at a photo on a tablet.
- EmmaRegarde, on peut zoomer sur son visage.Look, we can zoom in on her face.
- HugoOui, je vais zoomer pour mieux voir.Yes, I am going to zoom in to see better.
- EmmaC'est très net maintenant.It is very sharp now.
- HugoEffectivement, on voit tout.Indeed, we can see everything.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry zoomer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
