At the A1 level, you only need to know 'mouliner' in the context of the kitchen. Imagine you are making a simple vegetable soup. After boiling the carrots and potatoes, you use a tool to make them smooth. This action is 'mouliner'. It is a regular '-er' verb, which is the easiest type to learn in French. You say 'Je mouline', 'Tu moulines', 'Il mouline'. It is very common in French homes because French people love 'la soupe' and 'la purée'. If you see a menu that says 'potage mouliné', it just means a smooth vegetable soup. Don't worry about the computer or cycling meanings yet; just focus on the kitchen tool called 'la moulinette'.
At the A2 level, you can start to use 'mouliner' to describe food preparation in more detail. You might use it in the past tense: 'J'ai mouliné les légumes pour le bébé' (I milled the vegetables for the baby). You should also recognize the word 'moulin' (mill), like 'un moulin à poivre' (a pepper mill), though remember that for pepper we usually use the verb 'moudre'. You are starting to see that 'mouliner' implies a repetitive, circular movement. It's a useful word for talking about chores or cooking at home. You might also hear it in a very simple way regarding a computer that is slow: 'L'ordinateur mouline', meaning the computer is busy thinking.
At the B1 level, you should understand the three main contexts of 'mouliner': culinary, computing, and cycling. In the kitchen, it's about texture (smooth vs. chunky). In computing, it's a colloquial way to say 'processing'. If you are in a meeting and someone says 'Le programme mouline encore', you know they are waiting for the computer to finish a task. In sports, specifically cycling, 'mouliner' describes a specific technique of pedaling fast with low resistance to save energy. You can also use the figurative expression 'mouliner dans le vide', which means to work hard but achieve nothing, like a mill spinning with no grain inside. This is a very natural-sounding word for a B1 student to use.
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the nuances between 'mouliner', 'moudre', and 'broyer'. You understand that 'mouliner' is often used metaphorically for mental processes. For example, 'Son cerveau mouline' suggests someone is thinking very hard, perhaps over-analyzing a situation. You should also be able to use the causative 'faire mouliner' (to have something processed). In a professional environment, you might say, 'On va faire mouliner les données par le logiciel'. You recognize that 'mouliner' is slightly informal compared to 'traiter' or 'analyser', but it is very common in spoken French among colleagues. You can also use it to describe a repetitive, boring task that feels like 'grinding' through work.
At the C1 level, you recognize 'mouliner' as part of a rich tapestry of mechanical metaphors in French. You can use it to describe complex systems or bureaucratic processes that 'grind' through applications or files. You are aware of its history, coming from 'moulin' (mill), and how it reflects a very French domestic reality (the ubiquity of the Moulinex brand). You can distinguish the subtle irony when someone says 'Il nous a mouliné un discours habituel', implying the person just 'churned out' a standard, unoriginal speech. Your usage of the word is precise, choosing 'mouliner' for its connotations of mechanical, repetitive, and sometimes tedious processing, whether physical, digital, or mental.
At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 'mouliner'. You can use it in literary or highly idiomatic contexts, perhaps playing on its dual nature of productivity and futility. You might use it in a critique of modern technology, describing how we 'moulinons' infinite data without producing wisdom. You understand its place in technical jargon (like the specific cadence of a professional cyclist) and can switch effortlessly to its domestic or figurative uses. You can appreciate the word's texture in a sentence, using it to evoke the sound and rhythm of a machine or a mind at work. It becomes a tool for adding color and cultural depth to your French, moving far beyond its simple culinary origins.

mouliner in 30 Sekunden

  • Primarily used for milling cooked vegetables into a smooth soup or purée using a manual or electric food mill.
  • Commonly used in IT to describe a computer or software processing large amounts of data or running a script.
  • Refers to a cycling technique where the rider pedals at a high frequency with low resistance to climb hills.
  • Can figuratively mean 'spinning one's wheels' or overthinking a problem without reaching a clear conclusion.

The French verb mouliner is a fascinating and versatile word that every intermediate learner should master. At its most literal level, it refers to the physical act of using a mill or a grinder, particularly in the kitchen. Imagine the traditional French 'moulinette' used to turn cooked vegetables into a smooth, velvety soup. This is the heart of the word: repetitive, circular motion that transforms something solid into a finer consistency.

The Culinary Core
In a domestic setting, you will hear this word most often when discussing recipes. It implies a mechanical process, often manual, though electric 'moulins' also perform the action. Unlike 'hacher' (to chop) or 'couper' (to cut), mouliner suggests a complete reduction of the ingredient's original structure.
The Computing Metaphor
In the modern digital age, mouliner has found a second life in the world of IT. When a computer is processing a large amount of data or a complex algorithm is running, French speakers say the machine is 'moulinant'. It evokes the image of internal gears turning tirelessly to produce a result.

Pour obtenir une texture parfaite, il faut mouliner les légumes pendant qu'ils sont encore chauds.

To get a perfect texture, you must mill the vegetables while they are still hot.

Beyond the kitchen and the computer, mouliner appears in sports, specifically cycling. If a cyclist is 'moulinant', they are pedaling with a high frequency but low resistance—a technique often used during long climbs in the Alps. This variety of uses shows how the concept of 'repetitive rotation' serves as the bridge between very different domains of life.

Regarde le cycliste là-bas, il mouline pour ne pas s'épuiser dans la montée.

L'ordinateur mouline depuis dix minutes sur ce fichier Excel.

Figurative Mental Effort
Sometimes, a person's brain can 'mouliner'. This implies intense thinking, often to the point of being stuck on a problem or overthinking. It captures the 'spinning' sensation of a mind working overtime.

On sent que son cerveau mouline pour trouver une solution.

Using mouliner correctly requires understanding its transitive and intransitive forms. As a transitive verb (taking a direct object), it describes the action performed on something else. As an intransitive verb, it describes a state of activity or motion.

Transitive Usage (With an Object)
When you are in the kitchen, you 'moulinez' the soup, the potatoes, or the carrots. The object receives the action. Note that the direct object follows the verb directly without a preposition.

Ma grand-mère préférait mouliner la purée à la main plutôt que d'utiliser un mixeur électrique.

Intransitive Usage (Action as State)
In cycling or computing, the verb is often intransitive. You don't 'mouliner' a thing; you simply 'mouline'. This describes the characteristic motion or process itself.

Si tu veux grimper ce col sans trop souffrir, tu dois mouliner avec un petit braquet.

In professional contexts, specifically data science or engineering, you might hear the phrase 'faire mouliner'. This causative construction means 'to make (the computer/software) process' something. It emphasizes the user initiating a heavy task.

On va faire mouliner l'algorithme toute la nuit pour obtenir les statistiques demain matin.

The 'Moulinette' connection
The noun 'moulinette' is the diminutive of 'moulin'. When you use a moulinette, you are by definition 'moulinant'. This is a common household term in France, often associated with the brand Moulinex.

Passe-moi la moulinette, je vais mouliner les tomates pour la sauce.

The word mouliner is deeply embedded in the daily life of French people, appearing in three main 'ecosystems': the domestic kitchen, the tech office, and the cycling trail. Understanding these contexts helps you recognize the 'vibe' of the word.

In the Kitchen (Tradition and Comfort)
France is a nation of soup and purée lovers. If you visit a French family, you might hear a parent telling a child, 'On va mouliner la soupe pour qu'il n'y ait plus de morceaux' (We're going to mill the soup so there are no more chunks). It has a cozy, traditional connotation.

Rien ne vaut une soupe de potiron moulinée maison.

In the Office (Tech and Frustration)
In a modern French office, especially in IT or finance, 'mouliner' is used to describe software processing heavy workloads. If an application is slow or showing a loading spinner, a colleague might sigh and say, 'Ça mouline encore...' (It's still grinding away...). It implies a certain mechanical effort by the computer.

L'exportation du rapport prend du temps, le serveur mouline à fond.

In informal conversation, mouliner can also describe someone who is talking a lot without saying much, or someone who is repeating the same actions without progress. It's like 'spinning your wheels' in English. This figurative use is common when someone is frustrated with a lack of efficiency.

On mouline dans le vide depuis une heure, il faut changer de stratégie.

The 'Mouliner du Noir' variant
While 'broyer du noir' is the standard idiom for being depressed, some speakers use 'mouliner du noir' to emphasize the repetitive, obsessive nature of dark thoughts. It's like the mind is a mill constantly producing sadness.

Even advanced learners can trip up on the nuances of mouliner. The most frequent errors involve confusing it with its cousin 'moudre' or using it in contexts where 'mixer' would be more appropriate.

Confusion with 'Moudre'
This is the #1 mistake. 'Moudre' (irregular: je mouds, nous moulons) is for hard, dry substances like coffee beans (moudre du café) or wheat (moudre du grain). 'Mouliner' is for soft, cooked substances like vegetables for a soup. You don't 'mouliner' coffee!

Faux: Je vais mouliner les grains de café.
Juste: Je vais moudre les grains de café.

Mouliner vs. Mixer
'Mixer' involves high-speed blades that emulsify everything. 'Mouliner' uses a mill that pushes food through a grate. The result of 'mouliner' has more texture. If you use a blender, you are 'mixant'. If you use a food mill, you are 'moulinant'.

Another mistake is using 'mouliner' for physical exercise generally. It only applies to high-cadence, low-resistance circular motion (like cycling or perhaps a hand-crank machine). You wouldn't use it for running or swimming.

Faux: Il mouline dans la piscine.
Juste: Il enchaîne les longueurs dans la piscine.

Conjugation Pitfall
Because 'moudre' has the stem 'moul-' in its plural forms (nous moulons, vous moulez), learners often think 'mouliner' is the infinitive of 'moudre'. They are two separate verbs! 'Mouliner' is regular (-er), 'Moudre' is highly irregular.

To truly sound like a native, you need to know when to swap mouliner for a more specific or more formal synonym. Here is a breakdown of how it compares to its neighbors.

Moudre vs. Mouliner
As mentioned, moudre is for dry seeds/beans. Mouliner is for wet/cooked vegetables.
Example: On moud le poivre, mais on mouline la soupe.
Broyer
Broyer is much more aggressive. It means to crush or pulverize something into tiny pieces or dust. You 'broyez' stones or industrial waste. It sounds more violent than 'mouliner'.
Traiter / Exécuter (Computing)
In a formal technical report, you wouldn't say the computer is 'moulinant'. You would use traiter des données (process data) or exécuter un script (run a script). 'Mouliner' is the colloquial way to describe the same thing.

L'algorithme traite les informations (Formal) vs. L'algorithme mouline (Informal).

For culinary purposes, écraser (to crush/mash) is an alternative if you are using a fork rather than a mill. If you are making baby food, you might use réduire en purée (reduce to a purée), which is a more descriptive phrase for the end result.

Pédaler dans la semoule
This is a great idiom to know alongside 'mouliner dans le vide'. It means to struggle or get nowhere, literally 'pedaling in semolina'. It shares the same 'ineffective motion' vibe as the figurative 'mouliner'.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The brand 'Moulinex' takes its name from 'Moulin Express', an early electric food mill, which helped popularize the verb 'mouliner' in French households.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /mu.li.ne/
US /mu.li.ne/
The stress is typically on the final syllable 'né'.
Reimt sich auf
dîner cuisiner terminer dessiner imaginer deviner tartiner pédaler
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing the final 'r' (it is silent).
  • Pronouncing 'ou' as 'u' (like 'mew'). It should be 'moo'.
  • Confusing the pronunciation with 'moulin' (moo-lan).
  • Stress on the first syllable.
  • Making the 'i' sound too short.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'moulin'.

Schreiben 3/5

Regular conjugation but easy to confuse with 'moudre'.

Sprechen 3/5

Useful for sounding native in casual tech or kitchen contexts.

Hören 4/5

Can be hard to distinguish in fast speech from 'moulin' or 'moulé'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

moulin légumes soupe ordinateur vélo

Als Nächstes lernen

moudre broyer mixer traiter cadence

Fortgeschritten

moulinage braquet algorithme purée

Wichtige Grammatik

Regular -er verb conjugation

Je mouline, nous moulinons.

Causative 'faire'

Je fais mouliner les données.

Transitive vs Intransitive

Je mouline les légumes (Trans) vs L'ordinateur mouline (Intrans).

Adverb placement

Il mouline rapidement.

Gerundive 'en moulinant'

C'est en moulinant qu'on réussit la purée.

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Je mouline les carottes.

I am milling the carrots.

Present tense of a regular -er verb.

2

Elle mouline la soupe.

She is milling the soup.

Third person singular.

3

Tu moulines les pommes de terre ?

Are you milling the potatoes?

Interrogative form.

4

Nous moulinons pour le bébé.

We are milling for the baby.

First person plural.

5

Il ne mouline pas les fruits.

He is not milling the fruits.

Negative construction.

6

Vous moulinez vite !

You are milling fast!

Second person plural with an adverb.

7

Ils moulinent des légumes.

They are milling vegetables.

Third person plural.

8

On mouline la purée.

We (informal) are milling the mashed potatoes.

Use of 'on' for 'we'.

1

J'ai mouliné tous les légumes hier.

I milled all the vegetables yesterday.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

2

Il faut mouliner la sauce doucement.

You must mill the sauce gently.

Use of 'il faut' followed by infinitive.

3

Ma mère moulinait toujours la soupe.

My mother always used to mill the soup.

Imparfait for a habitual action.

4

L'ordinateur mouline un peu ce matin.

The computer is grinding (processing) a bit this morning.

Metaphorical use for computing.

5

Est-ce que tu peux mouliner ça ?

Can you mill this?

Standard question with 'pouvoir'.

6

On va mouliner les tomates fraîches.

We are going to mill the fresh tomatoes.

Futur proche (aller + infinitive).

7

Elle a fini de mouliner le potage.

She finished milling the soup.

Verb 'finir de' + infinitive.

8

Ne mouline pas trop fort !

Don't mill too hard!

Imperative negative.

1

Le cycliste mouline dans la montée du col.

The cyclist is pedaling at a high cadence in the mountain pass climb.

Cycling context.

2

Si le logiciel mouline, attends un instant.

If the software is processing, wait a moment.

Hypothetical 'si' clause.

3

Je sens que mon cerveau mouline sur ce problème.

I feel my brain is grinding (thinking hard) on this problem.

Figurative mental use.

4

On a mouliné les données toute la nuit.

We processed the data all night.

Computing context, duration.

5

Il mouline dans le vide sans jamais décider.

He is spinning his wheels without ever deciding.

Idiomatic expression 'mouliner dans le vide'.

6

Pour cette recette, préférez mouliner plutôt que mixer.

For this recipe, prefer milling rather than blending.

Imperative for giving advice.

7

Elle mouline avec un petit braquet pour s'économiser.

She is pedaling at high cadence with a low gear to save energy.

Technical cycling terminology.

8

L'application a mouliné avant de planter.

The app processed for a while before crashing.

Sequence of events in the past.

1

L'algorithme doit encore mouliner quelques gigaoctets.

The algorithm still needs to process a few gigabytes.

Technical computing context.

2

À force de mouliner du noir, il a fini par déprimer.

By dint of dwelling on dark thoughts, he ended up getting depressed.

Idiomatic variant 'mouliner du noir'.

3

Il nous a fait mouliner le projet pendant des mois pour rien.

He made us grind away at the project for months for nothing.

Causative 'faire' + infinitive.

4

En cyclisme, mouliner est souvent plus efficace que de pousser.

In cycling, high-cadence pedaling is often more efficient than pushing (big gears).

Infinitive used as a noun/subject.

5

Le serveur mouline à cause du trafic intense.

The server is struggling/processing due to heavy traffic.

Expressing cause with 'à cause de'.

6

Bien qu'il mouline beaucoup, il n'avance pas sur son dossier.

Although he is working hard (grinding), he isn't making progress on his file.

Subjunctive after 'bien que'.

7

Voulez-vous que je mouline les légumes plus finement ?

Do you want me to mill the vegetables more finely?

Subjunctive after 'vouloir que'.

8

Le processeur mouline à plein régime.

The processor is running at full capacity (grinding away).

Prepositional phrase 'à plein régime'.

1

La bureaucratie mouline les dossiers avec une lenteur exaspérante.

The bureaucracy grinds through the files with exasperating slowness.

Metaphorical social context.

2

On sent la machine intellectuelle qui mouline derrière ses yeux.

One can sense the intellectual machine grinding behind his eyes.

Literary metaphorical usage.

3

Le logiciel a mouliné le script de rendu pendant trois jours.

The software processed the rendering script for three days.

Specific technical duration.

4

Elle ne cesse de mouliner les mêmes arguments sans fin.

She never stops churning out the same arguments endlessly.

Formal 'ne cesse de' construction.

5

L'usine mouline la pâte à papier avant le pressage.

The factory mills the paper pulp before pressing.

Industrial context.

6

Il est impératif de mouliner ces statistiques pour le rapport annuel.

It is imperative to process these statistics for the annual report.

Formal 'il est impératif de'.

7

À force de mouliner, il a fini par trouver la faille dans le système.

By grinding away at it, he eventually found the flaw in the system.

Gerundive sense with 'à force de'.

8

Le moulinage des soies est une étape cruciale de la fabrication.

The throwing (twisting/milling) of silk is a crucial step in manufacturing.

Related noun 'moulinage'.

1

La dialectique hégélienne mouline les concepts pour en extraire la synthèse.

Hegelian dialectics mills concepts to extract the synthesis from them.

Highly abstract academic usage.

2

Le temps mouline nos souvenirs jusqu'à n'en laisser qu'une poussière dorée.

Time mills our memories until only a golden dust remains.

Poetic metaphorical usage.

3

Cette administration mouline l'humain comme s'il s'agissait de simple matière brute.

This administration grinds down the human element as if it were mere raw material.

Social critique using 'comme si'.

4

L'œuvre mouline les influences classiques pour accoucher d'une modernité radicale.

The work processes (mills) classical influences to give birth to a radical modernity.

Artistic analysis.

5

Il s'est perdu dans les méandres d'une pensée qui mouline sur elle-même.

He got lost in the meanders of a thought process that grinds upon itself.

Reflexive metaphorical sense.

6

Le supercalculateur mouline des modèles climatiques d'une complexité inouïe.

The supercomputer is processing climate models of unheard-of complexity.

Scientific high-level context.

7

Rien ne semble pouvoir arrêter cette machine de guerre qui mouline tout sur son passage.

Nothing seems able to stop this war machine that grinds everything in its path.

Hyperbolic usage.

8

Le moulinage incessant de la rumeur finit par user les réputations les plus solides.

The incessant grinding of rumor ends up wearing down the most solid reputations.

Noun 'moulinage' used figuratively.

Häufige Kollokationen

mouliner la soupe
mouliner des données
mouliner dans la montée
faire mouliner
mouliner du noir
mouliner à la main
mouliner finement
laisser mouliner
mouliner dans le vide
mouliner à fond

Häufige Phrasen

Ça mouline.

— It's processing / It's taking time to load.

Attends, ça mouline encore.

Mouliner sa purée.

— To make one's mashed potatoes using a mill.

Il mouline sa purée tous les dimanches.

Mouliner en côte.

— To pedal at high cadence while going uphill.

Les bons grimpeurs savent mouliner en côte.

Arrête de mouliner.

— Stop overthinking / Stop talking pointlessly.

Arrête de mouliner, la solution est simple.

Passer à la moulinette.

— To process something thoroughly or criticize severely.

Le projet a été passé à la moulinette par le patron.

Mouliner du café (incorrectly used).

— To grind coffee (should be 'moudre').

Certains disent 'mouliner' au lieu de 'moudre' pour le café.

Mouliner des chiffres.

— To crunch numbers.

Le comptable mouline des chiffres toute la journée.

Faire mouliner la cervelle.

— To get the brain working.

Ce puzzle fait bien mouliner la cervelle.

Mouliner un script.

— To run/process a script.

Je vais mouliner le script de mise à jour.

Mouliner sans s'arrêter.

— To grind/process without stopping.

La machine mouline sans s'arrêter depuis ce matin.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

mouliner vs moudre

Moudre is for dry/hard items (coffee, grain). Mouliner is for soft/cooked items.

mouliner vs mixer

Mixer uses blades and makes it liquid. Mouliner uses a mill and keeps some texture.

mouliner vs moulinet

A moulinet is a fishing reel, not the action of milling food.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Mouliner dans le vide"

— To exert effort without results; to spin one's wheels.

Sans objectifs clairs, on mouline dans le vide.

informal
"Passer à la moulinette"

— To examine in great detail or to 'shred' someone's work with criticism.

Mon rapport a été passé à la moulinette.

neutral
"Mouliner du noir"

— To dwell on gloomy or depressing thoughts (variant of 'broyer du noir').

Elle mouline du noir depuis sa rupture.

informal
"Avoir la cervelle qui mouline"

— To have a mind that is constantly overthinking or processing.

J'ai la cervelle qui mouline, je n'arrive pas à dormir.

informal
"Mouliner comme un pro"

— To pedal with perfect, high-cadence technique like a professional cyclist.

Regarde-le, il mouline comme un pro dans le col.

neutral
"Mouliner des mots"

— To speak a lot without saying anything substantial; to churn out words.

L'avocat a mouliné des mots pendant une heure.

informal
"Mouliner de la semoule"

— Similar to 'pédaler dans la semoule'; to be confused or stuck.

Il mouline de la semoule sur cet exercice de maths.

slang
"Faire mouliner la machine"

— To keep the system running or to start a process.

Il faut faire mouliner la machine pour obtenir des résultats.

neutral
"Mouliner à vide"

— To run a process or think about something without any input or purpose.

L'ordinateur mouline à vide car le fichier est manquant.

neutral
"Mouliner pour la gloire"

— To work hard for no financial gain, only for recognition.

Il mouline pour la gloire dans cette association.

informal

Leicht verwechselbar

mouliner vs moudre

Similar root and meaning (grind).

Moudre is for dry goods; mouliner is for wet/cooked goods or repetitive motion.

Je mouds le café, je mouline la soupe.

mouliner vs broyer

Both involve reducing size.

Broyer is more industrial or violent (crushing). Mouliner is gentle and domestic.

On broie des cailloux, on mouline des courgettes.

mouliner vs pédaler

Both used in cycling.

Pédaler is the general act; mouliner is the specific high-cadence technique.

Il pédale normalement, mais il mouline quand ça monte.

mouliner vs traiter

Both used in IT.

Traiter is the formal term; mouliner is the casual, descriptive term.

Le logiciel traite les données (Formal). Ça mouline (Casual).

mouliner vs écraser

Both make food smooth.

Écraser is pressing down (like with a fork). Mouliner is a circular milling process.

Écrase la banane, mais mouline la purée.

Satzmuster

A1

Je mouline [food].

Je mouline la soupe.

A2

Il faut mouliner [food].

Il faut mouliner les carottes.

B1

L'ordinateur mouline [duration].

L'ordinateur mouline depuis une heure.

B1

Il mouline en [context].

Il mouline en montée.

B2

Arrête de mouliner [figurative].

Arrête de mouliner du noir.

B2

Faire mouliner [object].

Fais mouliner le programme.

C1

[Subject] mouline dans le vide.

La direction mouline dans le vide.

C2

Le moulinage de [abstract noun].

Le moulinage de la pensée hégélienne.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

moulin (mill)
moulinette (small food mill)
moulinage (action of milling/throwing silk)
moulineur (person who mills)

Verben

moudre (to grind dry goods)
remouliner (to mill again)

Adjektive

mouliné (milled/smooth)
moulinant (milling/processing)

Verwandt

meule (millstone)
meunier (miller)
farine (flour)
purée
cadence

So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in daily domestic and office life.

Häufige Fehler
  • Je mouline mon café. Je mouds mon café.

    Coffee is dry; use 'moudre'.

  • L'ordinateur est mouliné. L'ordinateur mouline.

    The computer performs the action; it isn't the one being milled.

  • Je mouline dans la rue. Je marche dans la rue.

    'Mouliner' is for specific circular motions, not general movement.

  • Nous moulons les légumes. Nous moulinons les légumes.

    'Moulons' is from 'moudre'; use 'moulinons' for the verb 'mouliner'.

  • Il mouline son vélo. Il mouline (en vélo).

    'Mouliner' is intransitive in cycling; you don't 'mouliner' the bike itself.

Tipps

Kitchen Tip

Use 'mouliner' when you want to emphasize that the soup was made traditionally with a food mill rather than a blender.

Tech Tip

When an app is stuck on a loading screen, say 'Ça mouline grave !' (It's really grinding!) to sound very natural.

Conjugation Tip

Don't confuse 'mouliner' with the plural of 'moudre'. 'Nous moulons' is from 'moudre'; 'Nous moulinons' is from 'mouliner'.

Cycling Tip

If you are watching the Tour de France, listen for the commentators talking about 'la vélocité'—this is often when they use 'mouliner'.

Mental Tip

Use 'mouliner' to describe that feeling when you can't stop thinking about a problem at night.

Cultural Tip

The brand Moulinex is so famous in France that 'mouliner' is often associated with their products.

Pronunciation Tip

Keep the 'ou' tight and the 'li' sharp. The final 'er' is just like the 'ay' in 'day'.

Writing Tip

In a recipe, 'mouliner' sounds more professional and specific than 'écraser'.

Distinction Tip

Remember: Moudre = Dry, Mouliner = Wet/Motion.

Nuance Tip

'Mouliner' implies a certain duration; it's rarely a quick, one-second action.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Moo-lin' (Moulin) Rouge windmill spinning around and around. That spinning motion is 'mouliner'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Visualize a hand turning a crank on a silver food mill, turning chunky vegetables into smooth soup.

Word Web

soupe purée ordinateur données vélo cadence moulinette moudre

Herausforderung

Try to use 'mouliner' in three different ways today: once for cooking, once for your computer, and once for your brain.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the noun 'moulin' (mill), which comes from the Late Latin 'molinum', from 'mola' (millstone/grindstone).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To work a mill or to process something through a mill.

Romance (Latin root).

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, functional word.

English speakers often just say 'grind' or 'process'. 'Mouliner' is more specific about the circular motion.

The brand Moulinex Tour de France commentary French grandmothers' soup recipes

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Kitchen

  • mouliner la soupe
  • mouliner finement
  • utiliser une moulinette
  • faire une purée moulinée

IT / Office

  • le serveur mouline
  • faire mouliner un script
  • ça mouline encore
  • mouliner des données

Cycling

  • mouliner en côte
  • mouliner avec un petit braquet
  • apprendre à mouliner
  • mouliner à 90 tours/minute

Psychology

  • mouliner du noir
  • le cerveau qui mouline
  • mouliner des idées
  • arrêter de mouliner

General / Idiomatic

  • mouliner dans le vide
  • passer à la moulinette
  • mouliner pour rien
  • continuer à mouliner

Gesprächseinstiege

"Est-ce que tu préfères mixer ta soupe ou la mouliner à la main ?"

"Ton ordinateur mouline souvent quand tu ouvres ce logiciel ?"

"Tu préfères mouliner en montée ou utiliser un gros braquet ?"

"Est-ce que tu as déjà passé un projet à la moulinette de ton patron ?"

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais quand ton cerveau commence à mouliner du noir ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris ta recette de soupe préférée et explique pourquoi il faut (ou non) la mouliner.

Raconte une fois où ton ordinateur a mouliné pendant des heures. Qu'as-tu fait ?

Penses-tu qu'il est mieux de mouliner (cadence rapide) ou de forcer dans la vie ?

Écris sur une situation où tu as eu l'impression de mouliner dans le vide au travail.

Comment fais-tu pour arrêter de mouliner du noir quand tu es stressé ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically no, you should use 'moudre'. While some people might understand you, it sounds incorrect to a native speaker.

In the kitchen, it's neutral. In computing, it's slightly informal/colloquial. In cycling, it's a technical term.

It is a small, often hand-cranked food mill used to purée vegetables or fruits. It's a iconic French kitchen tool.

Yes, figuratively. Saying 'mon cerveau mouline' means you are thinking hard, often in circles.

Mouliner uses a grate to press food through, preserving some fiber. Mixer uses sharp blades to emulsify everything into a liquid.

Yes, it is a regular -er verb, following the same pattern as 'parler' or 'manger'.

No, it's specific to the circular motion of pedaling or a crank. It doesn't apply to running.

It means to work hard or think hard without making any real progress, like spinning your wheels.

You can say 'L'ordinateur traite les données' (formal) or 'L'ordinateur mouline' (casual).

They do it to maintain a high heart rate while reducing the strain on their muscles, which is better for long climbs.

Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen

writing

Write a sentence using 'mouliner' in a kitchen context.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe what a computer does when it 'mouline'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Explain the difference between 'mouliner' and 'moudre'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use 'mouliner dans le vide' in a sentence about work.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a short dialogue between two cyclists using the verb 'mouliner'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

How would you tell someone to stop overthinking using 'mouliner'?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a recipe step that involves 'mouliner'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe a time your brain was 'moulinant' on a problem.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'The server is still processing the data.' using 'mouliner'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence using 'mouliner' in the past tense (passé composé).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

What does 'passer à la moulinette' mean in a professional context? Give an example.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Create a sentence using 'mouliner du noir'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence using the first person plural (nous) of 'mouliner'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Explain why a cyclist might choose to 'mouliner' during a climb.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'I am going to mill the carrots for the baby.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use 'mouliner' as an infinitive after the verb 'vouloir'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe the sound or motion of 'mouliner' in your own words.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a sentence using 'mouliner' in the future tense.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use 'mouliner' in a negative sentence.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe the texture of a 'soupe moulinée'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

How would you explain to a friend that your computer is slow using 'mouliner'?

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Tell a story about making a soup for your family.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Discuss the pros and cons of 'mouliner' vs 'mixer' in cooking.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Explain the technique of 'mouliner' to a beginner cyclist.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Roleplay: You are an IT support person explaining why a program is slow.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Give a short speech about why we should stop 'mouliner dans le vide' at work.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Describe the motion of a 'moulinette' using your hands and words.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

What do you do when you start 'mouliner du noir'?

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Tell someone how to prepare baby food using 'mouliner'.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Describe the atmosphere of a French kitchen on a Sunday morning.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Argue for or against the use of 'mouliner' as a technical term.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Ask a chef if they milled the vegetables themselves.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Explain a complex data process using the 'mouliner' metaphor.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Describe the feeling of your brain 'moulinant' on a difficult puzzle.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Talk about a famous cyclist known for 'mouliner'.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

How would you tell a colleague their computer is 'moulinant'?

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Describe the difference between 'moudre' and 'mouliner' out loud.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Predict what will happen to a soup if you don't 'mouline' it.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Discuss the history of the word 'moulin' and its derivatives.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Give instructions to a child on how to use a food mill safely.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Je vais mouliner les carottes.' Question: What is being milled?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Ça mouline dur aujourd'hui !' Question: Is the work going fast or slow?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Il faut mouliner en souplesse.' Question: Is this about cooking or cycling?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'J'ai trop mouliné, j'ai mal aux bras.' Question: Did the person use a manual or electric mill?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Le script a fini de mouliner.' Question: Is the task done?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Arrête de mouliner, on n'avance pas.' Question: Is the speaker happy with the progress?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'On va passer ton idée à la moulinette.' Question: Is the idea going to be ignored or examined?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Le serveur mouline, attends un peu.' Question: What should the listener do?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Il mouline comme un pro dans le Ventoux.' Question: Where is the cyclist?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'La purée est bien moulinée.' Question: How is the texture of the purée?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Je sens que ça mouline dans ta tête.' Question: What is the person doing?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Nous moulinons les données chaque soir.' Question: How often is the data processed?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'N'oublie pas de mouliner avant de servir.' Question: When should you mill?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'L'algorithme mouline les résultats.' Question: What is the algorithm doing?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Audio: 'Elle a passé sa vie à mouliner du noir.' Question: Was she a happy person?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
error correction

Je mouline mon café tous les matins.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Je mouds mon café tous les matins.

Use 'moudre' for coffee.

error correction

Nous moulons les légumes pour la soupe.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Nous moulinons les légumes pour la soupe.

'Moulons' is from 'moudre'.

error correction

L'ordinateur est mouliné par le programme.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: L'ordinateur mouline le programme.

The computer is the subject, not the object.

error correction

Il mouline son vélo très vite.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Il mouline très vite en vélo.

'Mouliner' is intransitive in cycling.

error correction

Tu moulines du noir ? C'est super !

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Tu moulines du noir ? C'est triste !

'Mouliner du noir' is negative.

error correction

J'ai moulu les légumes hier.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: J'ai mouliné les légumes hier.

Use 'mouliné' for vegetables.

error correction

Le serveur mouline dans le vide de données.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Le serveur mouline les données.

Remove 'dans le vide' if it's actually processing something.

error correction

Elle mouline sa purée avec un couteau.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Elle mouline sa purée avec une moulinette.

You can't 'mouliner' with a knife.

error correction

Le cycliste mouline avec un grand braquet.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Le cycliste mouline avec un petit braquet.

Milling requires low resistance (small gear).

error correction

On va mixer la soupe à la moulinette.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: On va mouliner la soupe à la moulinette.

Match the verb to the tool.

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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