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A2 verb #4,000 más común 10 min de lectura

ôter

Top 4,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos ôter en 30 segundos

Explicación ôter in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'ôter' as a simple synonym for 'take off'. While you will mostly use 'enlever' for your clothes, 'ôter' is a good word to recognize when someone asks you to 'ôter votre manteau' (take off your coat). It follows the regular -er verb pattern, so it's easy to conjugate: j'ôte, tu ôtes, il ôte, nous ôtons, vous ôtez, ils ôtent. Think of it as a polite way to talk about removing simple physical objects like shoes, hats, or glasses. It's a 'bonus' word that makes you sound more polite than a basic beginner. For example, if you visit a French friend, they might say 'Tu peux ôter tes chaussures' (You can take off your shoes). It's a very practical word for daily interactions involving clothing and personal items. Don't worry about the accent circumflex yet; just remember it sounds like 'oat'.

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At the A2 level, you start using 'ôter' in more varied contexts. You can use it for simple household tasks, like 'ôter la poussière' (to remove dust) or 'ôter une tache' (to remove a stain). You should also learn the common command 'Ôte-toi de là !' which means 'Move out of the way!' though it is a bit informal and direct. At this level, you should also notice 'ôter' in recipes: 'ôter du feu' means to take a pan off the stove. You are beginning to see that 'ôter' isn't just for clothes; it's for anything that is 'on' something else and needs to be 'off'. You should also be comfortable using it in the Passé Composé: 'J'ai ôté mon pull' (I took off my sweater). It's a useful verb for describing actions in the past and giving simple instructions to others.

At the B1 level, you should begin using 'ôter' for abstract concepts. It's no longer just about hats and stains; it's about feelings and ideas. You might say 'Cela m'ôte un doute' (That removes a doubt for me) or 'Rien ne m'ôtera cette idée de la tête' (Nothing will get this idea out of my head). You should also understand the 'ôter quelque chose à quelqu'un' structure, where 'à' indicates the person from whom something is taken. For example, 'Le voleur lui a ôté son sac' (The thief took her bag from her). This level requires a more nuanced understanding of register; you choose 'ôter' over 'enlever' in written reports or more formal letters to show a higher command of vocabulary. You also start to encounter it in common idioms like 'ôter une épine du pied' (to get someone out of a fix).

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At the B2 level, you use 'ôter' with precision in professional and literary contexts. You understand that 'ôter la vie' is a formal way to speak of death or killing. You can use 'ôter' in complex grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive: 'Il est important que vous ôtiez tout obstacle' (It is important that you remove every obstacle). You also distinguish 'ôter' from 'retirer' and 'extraire' based on the physical action involved. At this level, you should be able to discuss the nuances of the word in a debate or essay, perhaps using it to describe 'ôter les droits' (removing rights) or 'ôter les privilèges'. Your vocabulary is rich enough to know when 'ôter' provides the exact tone of 'taking away' that is required for a sophisticated argument or a detailed description of a process.

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At the C1 level, 'ôter' is a tool for stylistic variation. You use it to avoid repetition and to achieve a specific rhythmic or tonal quality in your prose. You are familiar with its historical roots and how the loss of the 's' led to the circumflex, and you might use this knowledge to appreciate older texts. You use 'ôter' in very specific collocations like 'ôter le pain de la bouche de quelqu'un' (to take the bread out of someone's mouth/deprive them of a living). You understand the subtle difference between 'ôter' and 'supprimer' in legal or philosophical texts. Your usage is effortless, and you can play with the word's formal overtones to create irony or to show deep respect. You are also aware of regional variations where 'ôter' might be more or less common than in standard Parisian French.

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At the C2 level, 'ôter' is fully integrated into your linguistic repertoire. You can use it in the most formal academic papers to describe the removal of variables in an experiment or the stripping away of layers in a structuralist analysis. You appreciate the word's presence in 17th-century classical theater (Racine, Molière) and can interpret its weight in those contexts. You might use it in poetry or high literature to evoke a sense of loss or separation. There is no nuance of the word—from its mathematical application to its use in the 'passé simple' (il ôta)—that you do not master. You can explain to others the subtle shifts in meaning over centuries and how 'ôter' maintains its place in the language despite the dominance of 'enlever'. Your mastery is such that you can use the word to convey authority, elegance, or clinical detachment as the situation demands.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

ôter en 30 segundos

Ôter is a formal French verb meaning 'to remove' or 'to take off', used for clothes, stains, and abstract concepts like doubt.
It is a regular -er verb with a circumflex on the 'o', which distinguishes it from similar-sounding words in writing.
Commonly used in medical, culinary, and polite social contexts, it is a sophisticated alternative to the everyday verb 'enlever'.
It requires a direct object and often uses the preposition 'à' when taking something away from a person.

The French verb ôter is a versatile and slightly more formal alternative to the ubiquitous word enlever. At its core, it means to remove, to take off, or to take away. While an English speaker might use 'remove' for everything from taking off a hat to deleting a file, French offers nuances that ôter captures perfectly in specific contexts. Historically, the word comes from the Old French oster, which explains the presence of the circumflex accent over the 'o'—a linguistic marker indicating where an 's' used to reside in the spelling centuries ago.

Physical Removal: The most common use of ôter is in the context of clothing. When you enter a house and the host says, 'Vous pouvez ôter votre manteau,' they are using a polite, slightly refined register. It suggests a clean, definitive action of taking something off the body.
Abstract Removal: Beyond the physical, ôter is frequently used to describe the removal of intangible things like doubt, hope, or life itself. To 'ôter la vie à quelqu'un' is a formal, often literary way to describe killing or taking a life. Similarly, 'ôter un doute' means to clear up a suspicion or uncertainty.

Il a fallu ôter toutes les mauvaises herbes du jardin avant de planter les fleurs.

It was necessary to remove all the weeds from the garden before planting the flowers.

In everyday conversation, you will hear ôter used by parents telling children to take their hands out of their mouths ('Ôte tes mains de là !') or by someone asking to have a specific ingredient removed from a dish. It carries a sense of 'taking away' that is more forceful than retirer but less common in slang than vrer. Understanding ôter is key to moving from basic A2 French to a more sophisticated B1 or B2 level, as it demonstrates a command of synonymy and register.

Mathematical Context: In basic arithmetic, 'ôter' can be used as a synonym for subtraction. For example, 'Si j'ôte deux de cinq, il reste trois' (If I take two from five, three remain). While 'soustraire' is the technical term, 'ôter' is the conceptual action of taking a quantity away.

Rien ne pourra m'ôter cette idée de la tête.

Nothing will be able to get this idea out of my head.

Finally, ôter is essential in culinary French. Recipes often instruct the cook to 'ôter du feu' (remove from the heat). This specific phrase is almost always used with ôter rather than other synonyms, making it a vital part of a foodie's vocabulary. Whether you are removing a stain (ôter une tache) or removing your shoes (ôter ses chaussures), this verb provides a clean, effective way to describe the act of separation and removal.

Using ôter correctly requires understanding its transitive nature. It always takes a direct object—the thing being removed. It follows the regular conjugation patterns of first-group verbs ending in -er, which makes it very accessible for learners. However, the nuance lies in the prepositional phrases that often follow it, such as 'ôter quelque chose à quelqu'un' (to take something away from someone).

Direct Object Usage: When removing an object, the structure is simple: [Subject] + [Conjugated Ôter] + [Object]. Example: 'Elle ôte ses gants' (She takes off her gloves). This is straightforward and mirrors the English 'to take off'.
The 'De' Preposition: When you specify where the object is being removed from, use 'de'. Example: 'Ôte tes pieds de la table !' (Take your feet off the table!). This is a very common command in household settings.

Il a ôté le bouchon de la bouteille avec précaution.

He carefully removed the cork from the bottle.

In more complex sentences, ôter can describe the removal of a burden or an emotion. For instance, 'Cela m'ôte un grand poids de l'esprit' (That takes a great weight off my mind). Here, the verb acts metaphorically to describe relief. Notice how the indirect object 'me' (m') indicates who is experiencing the removal.

Imperative Mood: The imperative is very common with this verb. 'Ôte-toi de là !' is a somewhat blunt way to say 'Get out of the way!' or 'Move from there!'. In this reflexive-like construction, it implies moving oneself away from a spot.

Pourriez-vous ôter votre chapeau, s'il vous plaît ?

Could you please take off your hat?

When using ôter in the past tense (Passé Composé), it uses the auxiliary 'avoir'. Example: 'J'ai ôté les étiquettes' (I removed the labels). In the future, 'Je vais ôter' or 'J'ôterai'. Its consistency makes it a reliable tool for any student. Pay attention to the circumflex—while it doesn't change the pronunciation in modern standard French significantly, it is essential for correct spelling and distinguishes the word from others.

If you spend time in France, you will encounter ôter in a variety of real-world settings that range from domestic life to high-end service. It is not just a 'book word'; it is a functional part of the French linguistic landscape. One of the most frequent places you will hear it is in a doctor's office or a medical setting. A doctor might say, 'Ôtez votre chemise, s'il vous plaît' (Take off your shirt, please). Here, ôter is preferred over enlever because it sounds professional and clinical.

In the Kitchen: As mentioned, cooking shows and recipe books are full of this verb. 'Ôter la peau des tomates' (Remove the skin from the tomatoes) or 'Ôter les pépins' (Remove the seeds). It implies a precise action of preparation.
In Literature and Media: In classic French literature (think Victor Hugo or Balzac), ôter is used for dramatic effect. 'Il lui ôta tout espoir' (He took away all her hope). In modern films, it might be used in a tense scene where someone is told to 'Ôte tes mains de ton arme' (Take your hands off your weapon).

Le serveur m'a aidé à ôter mon manteau à l'entrée du restaurant.

The waiter helped me take off my coat at the restaurant entrance.

In French schools, teachers use ôter when instructing students on hygiene or classroom behavior. 'Ôtez vos casquettes en classe' (Take off your caps in class). It carries an air of authority and proper etiquette. You might also see it on signs in museums or historical sites: 'Prière d'ôter vos chaussures' (Please remove your shoes).

Retail and Fashion: In a high-end boutique, a salesperson might say, 'Voulez-vous ôter l'étiquette ?' (Would you like to remove the tag?). It sounds more sophisticated than asking to 'couper' (cut) or 'enlever' (take off) the tag.

N'oubliez pas d'ôter la clé de la serrure après avoir fermé la porte.

Don't forget to remove the key from the lock after closing the door.

Socially, ôter is the verb of 'de-cluttering' or 'clearing'. If you are helping a friend clear a table, you might ask, 'Je peux ôter ces verres ?' (Can I take these glasses away?). It suggests a helpful, polite removal. By listening for ôter, you'll notice it bridges the gap between the purely functional and the traditionally polite in French society.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is overusing enlever and completely ignoring ôter, which can make their French sound a bit repetitive or overly informal. However, when they do use ôter, they often stumble on specific grammatical and contextual nuances. The first major mistake is the spelling—forgetting the circumflex on the 'ô'. While it doesn't change the sound much, it is a hallmark of correct French spelling.

Confusing 'Ôter' with 'Retirer': While they both mean 'remove', retirer often implies pulling something back or out (like withdrawing money from an ATM—'retirer de l'argent'). Ôter is more about taking something off a surface or a body. You wouldn't 'ôter' money from an ATM.
Preposition Errors: Learners often forget that 'ôter' takes 'à' when taking something away from someone. 'J'ai ôté le jouet à l'enfant' (I took the toy away from the child). Using 'de' here ('de l'enfant') is a common anglicism.

J'ai ôté mes chaussures de mes pieds.
J'ai ôté mes chaussures.

Redundant phrasing is a common mistake; you don't need to specify 'from my feet' unless it's unclear.

Another mistake is using ôter for 'deleting' digital files. In French, you should use supprimer or effacer. Saying 'J'ai ôté le fichier' sounds strange to a native speaker, as ôter implies a physical or conceptual 'taking away' rather than a digital deletion.

Misuse in Reflexive Contexts: While 's'enlever' is rare, 's'ôter' is used specifically for moving oneself. 'Ôte-toi !' (Move!). Learners sometimes use 'ôte-toi' when they mean 'take off your clothes', which is incorrect. For that, you just say 'ôte tes vêtements'.

Il a ôté le doute de moi.
Il m'a ôté un doute.

Using the indirect object pronoun 'me' is the natural French way to express 'from me'.

Lastly, avoid using ôter to mean 'taking someone out' on a date. That is sortir avec quelqu'un. Ôter is strictly about removal. By keeping these distinctions in mind—especially the 'à' for people and the avoidance of digital contexts—you will use ôter with the precision of a native speaker.

French is a language of precision, and while ôter is a great word, it exists within a cluster of synonyms that each have their own specific 'flavor'. Understanding the difference between ôter, enlever, retirer, and soustraire will significantly elevate your fluency.

Ôter vs. Enlever: Enlever is the most common and versatile. It can mean to remove, but also to kidnap (enlever quelqu'un). Ôter is more specific to the act of taking something off or away and is generally more formal. You 'enlever' your shoes at the door, but you 'ôter' your hat as a sign of respect.
Ôter vs. Retirer: Retirer implies a movement of pulling back or extracting. You 'retirer' a splinter from a finger or money from a bank. Ôter is more about the result of the object no longer being there.

Comparison:
1. Ôter une tache (Remove a stain - focus on the surface).
2. Retirer une écharde (Withdraw a splinter - focus on extraction).

When dealing with mathematics or logic, soustraire is the technical term for subtraction. However, in casual logic, ôter is used. For example, 'Si on ôte les frais, il ne reste rien' (If we take away the fees, nothing is left). Supprimer is another alternative, but it means 'to delete' or 'to suppress', often implying that the thing no longer exists at all, whereas ôter just means it has been moved from its current position.

Ôter vs. Arracher: Arracher means to tear away or rip off with force. Use ôter for a gentle or standard removal, and arracher when there is violence or great effort involved.

Elle a ôté ses lunettes pour mieux voir de près.

She took off her glasses to see better up close.

In summary, choose ôter when you want to emphasize the clean removal of something from a person or a surface, especially if you want to sound slightly more educated or polite than the average 'enlever' user. It is the 'scalpel' of removal verbs—precise, clean, and effective.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The circumflex accent on the 'ô' is a 'tombstone' for the letter 's' that used to be there in the Old French word 'oster'. This is a common pattern in French (e.g., hospital -> hôpital).

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ote/

US /oʊteɪ/

The stress is equal on both syllables, as is typical in French, though the final syllable may be slightly elongated.

Rima con

côté noté doté voté chanté parlé été beauté

Errores comunes

Pronouncing the 'ô' like the 'o' in 'pot' (it should be closed).
Pronouncing the final 'er' like 'er' in 'her' (it should be an 'é' sound).
Aspirating the 't' too much.
Adding a 'w' sound at the end of the 'o'.
Confusing the spelling with 'auto'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, though the circumflex is a specific detail.

Escritura 3/5

Requires remembering the circumflex and the correct preposition 'à'.

Expresión oral 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but requires knowing when to use it vs. 'enlever'.

Escucha 2/5

Clear sound, usually easy to distinguish in context.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

enlever mettre vêtements chaussures manteau

Aprende después

retirer soustraire dévêtir supprimer extraire

Avanzado

l'amovibilité soustractif l'extraction l'éviction

Gramática que debes saber

Regular -er verb conjugation

J'ôte, tu ôtes, il ôte, nous ôtons, vous ôtez, ils ôtent.

The circumflex accent

The 'ô' indicates a historical 's' (oster).

Indirect object with 'à'

Ôter quelque chose à quelqu'un (Take something from someone).

Preposition 'de' for origin

Ôter quelque chose de la table (Take something off the table).

Passé composé with 'avoir'

J'ai ôté mon pull.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Tu peux ôter ton chapeau ici.

You can take off your hat here.

Simple present tense, 2nd person singular.

J'ôte mes chaussures à la porte.

I take off my shoes at the door.

First person singular, regular -er verb.

Il ôte ses lunettes pour dormir.

He takes off his glasses to sleep.

Subject-verb-object structure.

Ôte ton manteau, il fait chaud.

Take off your coat, it's hot.

Imperative mood (informal).

Elle ôte son écharpe rouge.

She takes off her red scarf.

Agreement of adjective 'rouge' with 'écharpe'.

Nous ôtons nos gants dehors.

We take off our gloves outside.

First person plural conjugation.

Vous ôtez vos vestes, messieurs ?

Are you taking off your jackets, gentlemen?

Polite 'vous' form used as a question.

Ils ôtent leurs sacs à dos.

They take off their backpacks.

Third person plural conjugation.

Il faut ôter la poussière sur la table.

It's necessary to remove the dust on the table.

Infinitive after 'il faut'.

J'ai ôté la tache de café.

I removed the coffee stain.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Ôte tes mains de ta bouche !

Take your hands out of your mouth!

Imperative with preposition 'de'.

Elle a ôté les fleurs fanées.

She removed the wilted flowers.

Past participle agreement rules (none here).

Peux-tu ôter le sel de la table ?

Can you take the salt off the table?

Interrogative with 'peux-tu'.

Il ôte la viande du feu.

He takes the meat off the heat.

Culinary context.

Nous avons ôté les vieilles affiches.

We removed the old posters.

Plural object 'affiches'.

N'oubliez pas d'ôter la clé.

Don't forget to remove the key.

Negative imperative + de + infinitive.

Cette nouvelle m'a ôté un grand souci.

This news took a great worry away from me.

Metaphorical use with indirect object 'm''.

Il a ôté son chapeau devant la dame.

He took off his hat in front of the lady.

Le médecin m'a dit d'ôter mon pansement.

The doctor told me to remove my bandage.

Medical context.

Rien ne pourra lui ôter cette conviction.

Nothing will be able to take this conviction away from him.

Abstract object 'conviction'.

Le vent a ôté les feuilles des arbres.

The wind took the leaves off the trees.

Natural force as subject.

Elle a ôté le surplus de crème.

She removed the excess cream.

Precise quantity 'surplus'.

Il faut ôter les obstacles au projet.

We must remove the obstacles to the project.

Figurative use in a work context.

J'ai dû lui ôter son couteau des mains.

I had to take his knife out of his hands.

Action of preventing danger.

Le chirurgien doit ôter la tumeur demain.

The surgeon must remove the tumor tomorrow.

Highly formal medical term.

L'accusé a ôté la vie à un innocent.

The accused took the life of an innocent person.

Euphemism for killing in legal context.

Sa réponse a ôté toute ambiguïté.

His answer removed all ambiguity.

Abstract removal of confusion.

On lui a ôté son permis de conduire.

They took away his driver's license.

Passive-like 'on' structure for official action.

Ôtez-moi d'un doute : est-ce bien lui ?

Remove a doubt for me: is it really him?

Fixed idiom 'ôter d'un doute'.

Le gouvernement a ôté certaines subventions.

The government removed certain subsidies.

Economic/political context.

Il s'est ôté de la circulation pendant un mois.

He took himself out of circulation for a month.

Reflexive use meaning 'to withdraw'.

Elle a ôté l'emballage avec précaution.

She removed the packaging with care.

Adverbial phrase 'avec précaution'.

L'auteur a ôté plusieurs chapitres au manuscrit.

The author removed several chapters from the manuscript.

Literary/editing context.

Cette défaite lui ôte tout espoir de victoire.

This defeat takes away all hope of victory from him.

Abstract emotional impact.

Le temps finit par ôter l'éclat des couleurs.

Time eventually takes away the brilliance of colors.

Philosophical observation on time.

On ne peut ôter à cet homme son intégrité.

One cannot take away this man's integrity.

Inseparable quality.

Il a ôté le pain de la bouche de sa famille.

He took the bread out of his family's mouth.

Idiomatic expression for deprivation.

La loi a ôté ce privilège aux nobles.

The law took this privilege away from the nobles.

Historical/legal context.

Il a ôté son masque social pour une fois.

He took off his social mask for once.

Metaphorical removal of facade.

Cette mesure ôte toute flexibilité au système.

This measure removes all flexibility from the system.

Technical/systemic analysis.

L'ascétisme consiste à ôter le superflu.

Asceticism consists in removing the superfluous.

Philosophical definition.

La mort lui ôta ses derniers retranchements.

Death took away his last defenses.

High literary style using Passé Simple.

Le sculpteur ôte de la matière pour créer la forme.

The sculptor removes material to create the form.

Artistic theory.

L'exil lui a ôté sa patrie mais pas sa langue.

Exile took away his homeland but not his language.

Contrast of physical vs. cultural loss.

Ôter le voile de l'ignorance est le but de la science.

Removing the veil of ignorance is the goal of science.

Metaphorical/Epistemological use.

Elle a ôté toute velléité de résistance chez ses opposants.

She removed any hint of resistance among her opponents.

Complex noun 'velléité'.

Le critique a ôté tout crédit à cette théorie.

The critic took away all credit from this theory.

Academic debunking.

Il s'agit d'ôter les scories du texte original.

It is a matter of removing the dross from the original text.

Precise vocabulary 'scories'.

Colocaciones comunes

ôter son manteau

ôter une tache

ôter un doute

ôter du feu

ôter la vie

ôter ses chaussures

ôter la poussière

ôter tout espoir

ôter l'étiquette

ôter ses lunettes

Frases Comunes

Ôte-toi de là !

— A direct and sometimes rude way to tell someone to move.

Ôte-toi de là, je ne vois rien !

Ôter le haut

— To take off one's shirt or top, often used in medical or beach contexts.

Le médecin m'a demandé d'ôter le haut.

Ôter le bas

— To take off one's pants or skirt.

Il faut ôter le bas pour l'examen.

Ôter de l'esprit

— To get something out of one's mind.

Je n'arrive pas à m'ôter cette chanson de l'esprit.

Ôter la parole

— To take away someone's right or ability to speak.

Le président a ôté la parole au député.

Ôter une épine du pied

— To help someone out of a difficult situation (to remove a thorn from the foot).

Tu m'as vraiment ôté une épine du pied.

Ôter ses gants

— Literally to take off gloves, or figuratively to stop being gentle.

Il est temps d'ôter les gants et de dire la vérité.

Ôter le pain de la bouche

— To deprive someone of their livelihood.

Cette nouvelle loi ôte le pain de la bouche des petits commerçants.

Ôter son chapeau

— To show respect (to take off one's hat).

Je lui ôte mon chapeau pour son courage.

Ôter la peau

— To peel or skin something.

Il faut ôter la peau des pêches.

Se confunde a menudo con

ôter vs hôte

A noun meaning 'host' or 'guest'. Sounds exactly like 'ôte' but used differently.

ôter vs haute

The feminine form of 'haut' (high). Pronounced similarly but starts with an aspirated 'h'.

ôter vs ôte (verb) vs. ôtes (verb)

Pronounced the same, but 'ôte' is for 'je/il' and 'ôtes' is for 'tu'.

Modismos y expresiones

"S'en faire ôter l'idée"

— To be persuaded otherwise or to give up on an idea.

Elle ne se fera pas ôter l'idée qu'il a tort.

standard

"Ôter une fière chandelle du pied"

— A rare variation of 'une épine du pied', meaning to provide great relief.

Son aide m'a ôté une fière chandelle du pied.

literary/old-fashioned

"Ôter le masque"

— To reveal one's true character or intentions.

Il a enfin ôté le masque.

literary

"Ôter le morceau de la bouche"

— To interrupt someone just as they were about to say something.

Tu m'as ôté le morceau de la bouche !

informal

"Ôter le goût de quelque chose"

— To discourage someone from doing something again.

Cette expérience m'a ôté le goût du voyage.

standard

"Ôter le mot de la bouche"

— To say exactly what someone else was about to say.

C'est exactement ça, tu m'as ôté le mot de la bouche.

standard

"S'ôter le pain de la bouche pour quelqu'un"

— To sacrifice one's own needs to help another.

Elle s'est ôté le pain de la bouche pour ses enfants.

standard

"Ôter les mots de la bouche"

— To steal someone's idea or speech.

Il m'a ôté les mots de la bouche lors de la réunion.

standard

"Ôter tout crédit"

— To make something no longer believable.

Cette erreur ôte tout crédit à son témoignage.

formal

"Ôter une hypothèque"

— Literally to remove a mortgage, or figuratively to remove a threat/obstacle.

Cela ôte une hypothèque sur notre avenir.

formal

Fácil de confundir

ôter vs enlever

Both mean 'to remove'.

'Enlever' is general and common; 'ôter' is slightly more formal and specific to taking 'off' a surface.

Enlève ta chemise (casual) vs. Ôtez votre chemise (medical/formal).

ôter vs retirer

Both mean 'to remove'.

'Retirer' implies pulling out or back (extraction); 'ôter' is simply taking away.

Retirer de l'argent vs. Ôter un chapeau.

ôter vs supprimer

Both mean 'to remove'.

'Supprimer' means to delete or eliminate completely; 'ôter' means to displace.

Supprimer un compte vs. Ôter une chaise.

ôter vs vêtir

Sounds like it might be related to clothes.

'Vêtir' means to dress; 'ôter' is the action of undressing (taking off).

Il se vêt (he dresses) vs. Il ôte ses habits (he takes off clothes).

ôter vs vire

Slang for removing.

'Virer' is slang/informal for 'firing' or 'throwing out'; 'ôter' is standard/formal.

Il l'a viré (He fired him) vs. Il a ôté son nom (He removed his name).

Patrones de oraciones

Je + ôte + [clothing]

Je ôte mon pull.

Il faut + ôter + [object]

Il faut ôter la tache.

[Event] + m'a ôté + [abstract noun]

Cela m'a ôté un doute.

Ôter + [object] + à + [person]

Il a ôté le jouet à l'enfant.

Ne pas pouvoir + ôter + [quality] + à + [person]

On ne peut ôter son talent à cet artiste.

L'acte d'ôter + [philosophical concept]

L'acte d'ôter le voile de la réalité.

Any

Ôter + [object] + du feu

Ôtez la soupe du feu.

Any

S'ôter + de + [place]

Il s'est ôté du chemin.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

ôte-agrafes (staple remover)

ôte-bottes (bootjack)

Verbos

réôter (to take off again - rare)

Adjetivos

ôté (removed - past participle used as adj)

Relacionado

enlever

retirer

soustraire

ôte-toi

ôte-moi

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Common in specific contexts (clothes, cleaning, cooking) but less common than 'enlever' in general speech.

Errores comunes

Using 'enlever' for 'ôter du feu'. → Ôter du feu.
In culinary contexts, 'ôter' is the fixed and standard verb for removing something from the heat.
Saying 'ôter de quelqu'un' for 'taking from someone'. → Ôter à quelqu'un.
French uses the preposition 'à' to indicate the person who is losing the object.
Forgetting the circumflex accent. → Ôter.
The circumflex is part of the standard spelling and reflects the word's etymology.
Using 'ôter' for deleting computer files. → Supprimer un fichier.
'Ôter' is for physical or conceptual removal, not digital deletion.
Confusing 'ôte' (verb) with 'hôte' (noun). → L'hôte a ôté son manteau.
While they sound the same, 'hôte' is the person (host/guest) and 'ôte' is the action.

Consejos

Watch the Prepositions

Remember to use 'à' when taking something from a person ('ôter à quelqu'un') and 'de' when taking it from a place ('ôter de la table').

Elegant Alternative

Use 'ôter' instead of 'enlever' when you are a guest in someone's home to sound more refined and polite.

Closed O

The 'ô' is a closed vowel. Practice saying 'eau' (water) and then add the 'te' to get the perfect pronunciation of 'ôte'.

The Ghost S

The circumflex is like a ghost of the 's' in 'oster'. Keeping this in mind helps you remember to write it.

Chef's Word

In recipes, 'ôter du feu' is the standard way to say 'take off the heat'. Don't use 'enlever' here.

Abstract Use

For high-level French, use 'ôter' for abstract things like 'ôter un doute' or 'ôter tout espoir' to show sophistication.

Polite Commands

If you need to tell someone to remove something, 'Pourriez-vous ôter...' is much more polite than 'Enlevez...'

Clinical Precision

In a medical context, 'ôter' is the professional choice for removing bandages, clothing, or even surgical items.

The Thorn Idiom

Learn 'ôter une épine du pied'. It's a very common way to thank someone for helping you out of a mess.

Moving Out of the Way

Use 'Ôte-toi de là !' when you need someone to move quickly, but be aware it is quite direct.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of an 'Oat' (ôter). If you have an 'Oat' on your coat, you need to 'ôter' it! (Remove it).

Asociación visual

Imagine a magician taking off a top hat. As he lifts it, he says 'Ôter!'. The hat is gone.

Word Web

manteau chaussures doute tache vie feu lunettes étiquette

Desafío

Try to use 'ôter' three times today: once for a piece of clothing, once for a kitchen task, and once for an abstract feeling like doubt.

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Old French 'oster', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'austare', a variant of 'obstare' (to stand in the way/oppose).

Significado original: Originally meant to push back or to remove an obstacle that is standing in the way.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Gallo-Romance > French.

Contexto cultural

Be careful with 'ôter la vie' (to take a life). It is a very serious and formal way to speak about death.

English speakers often use 'take off' for everything. In French, 'ôter' is more specific and slightly more formal than the English equivalent.

Victor Hugo often used 'ôter' in his poetry to describe the removal of light or life. The phrase 'Ôte-toi de mon soleil' (Get out of my sun) is attributed to Diogenes the Cynic speaking to Alexander the Great. French classical theater (Molière) uses 'ôter' frequently for dramatic removals of masks or secrets.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At home

Ôter ses chaussures
Ôter la poussière
Ôter les miettes
Ôter une tache

At the doctor

Ôter le haut
Ôter le pansement
Ôter les lunettes
Ôter sa montre

In the kitchen

Ôter du feu
Ôter la peau
Ôter les pépins
Ôter le couvercle

Social etiquette

Ôter son chapeau
Ôter son manteau
Ôter ses gants
Ôter son masque

Abstract/Emotional

Ôter un doute
Ôter l'espoir
Ôter une idée
Ôter la vie

Inicios de conversación

"Est-ce que je dois ôter mes chaussures quand j'entre chez toi ?"

"Comment faites-vous pour ôter une tache de vin rouge sur un tapis ?"

"Pensez-vous que la technologie va nous ôter notre liberté un jour ?"

"Peux-tu m'ôter d'un doute, est-ce que le magasin est ouvert aujourd'hui ?"

"Voulez-vous que je vous aide à ôter votre manteau ?"

Temas para diario

Décrivez une fois où vous avez dû ôter un obstacle difficile de votre vie.

Quelles sont les choses que vous aimeriez ôter de votre routine quotidienne pour être plus heureux ?

Racontez une situation où quelqu'un vous a ôté une épine du pied.

Pourquoi est-il important d'ôter ses préjugés avant de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes ?

Si vous pouviez ôter une seule invention de l'histoire humaine, laquelle choisiriez-vous ?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, 'enlever' is much more common in everyday spoken French. 'Ôter' is used when you want to be slightly more formal, polite, or precise, especially regarding clothes or stains. It is also the standard word in cooking (ôter du feu) and medicine (ôter un pansement).

No, that would sound very strange. For digital files, you should use 'supprimer' (delete) or 'effacer' (erase). 'Ôter' implies a physical or conceptual removal from a surface or person, not a digital deletion.

Yes, in standard modern French, the circumflex on the 'ô' is required. It historically represents an 's' that was present in Old French ('oster'). While some spelling reforms allow for its removal in certain words, 'ôter' usually retains it to avoid confusion.

'Retirer' usually involves a movement of pulling something back or out (like pulling a drawer or withdrawing money). 'Ôter' is more about the simple act of taking something off or away. You 'retirer' a splinter from your skin, but you 'ôter' your coat.

No, that is 'enlever'. While 'enlever' and 'ôter' share the meaning of 'remove', only 'enlever' has the secondary meaning of 'to abduct' or 'to kidnap'. If you say someone was 'ôté', it sounds like they were removed from a list, not kidnapped.

You say 'Ôte tes pieds de la table !' This is a very common use of the verb. You use the imperative 'ôte' and the preposition 'de' to indicate the surface they are being removed from.

No, 'tuer' is the most common word for 'to kill'. 'Ôter la vie' is a euphemism, much like 'to take a life' in English. It is used in formal writing, legal contexts, or literature to sound more serious or poetic.

Yes, 's'ôter' exists but it is mostly used in the imperative 'Ôte-toi !' (Move yourself / Get out of the way!). It is less common in other reflexive forms compared to verbs like 'se retirer' (to withdraw).

It uses the auxiliary 'avoir'. For example: 'J'ai ôté', 'Tu as ôté', 'Il a ôté', 'Nous avons ôté', 'Vous avez ôté', 'Ils ont ôté'. The past participle 'ôté' does not change unless it follows the direct object agreement rule.

It is a popular idiom meaning 'to get someone out of a fix' or 'to solve a major problem for someone'. Literally, it means 'to remove a thorn from the foot', which provides great relief. Example: 'Merci, tu m'as ôté une épine du pied !'

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