At the A1 level, you only need to know 'tamiser' in the context of very simple cooking instructions. Think of it as a specific action you do with flour or sugar when making a cake. You might see it in a basic recipe: 'Tamisez la farine.' It is a physical action. At this stage, don't worry about the light or metaphorical meanings. Focus on the tool (le tamis) and the action of sifting dry ingredients. You can remember it by associating it with the 't' in 'texture'—you sift to get a better texture. It is a regular -er verb, so it follows the same conjugation rules as 'parler' or 'manger'. Practice saying 'Je tamise' while pretending to shake a sieve. This physical connection will help you remember the word. Even at A1, knowing this word makes you sound more like a real French cook! It's better than saying 'passer la farine'.
At the A2 level, you can start using 'tamiser' in more descriptive sentences about your daily life, especially hobbies like baking or gardening. You should be able to conjugate it in the present and the 'passé composé'. For example, 'Hier, j'ai tamisé le sucre pour mon dessert.' You might also encounter the adjective 'tamisé' for the first time. If you go to a restaurant, you might notice 'une lumière tamisée' (soft light). This is a great vocabulary boost for describing environments. You are moving from just knowing the action to describing the result of the action. Start noticing how curtains or lampshades 'tamisent' the light in your own home. This level is about expanding the context from just the kitchen to the living room atmosphere. You should also recognize the noun 'un tamis' as the object used for this action.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'tamiser' both literally and figuratively. You understand that 'tamiser' is a way to refine something. In a professional or academic setting, you might hear about 'tamiser des informations' or 'tamiser des CV' (sifting through CVs). This means looking through a lot of data to find the best parts. You should also be able to use the passive voice: 'La lumière est tamisée par les stores.' At B1, you are expected to handle more complex sentence structures and understand the nuance of creating an 'ambiance'. You can distinguish between 'tamiser' (sifting solids/light) and 'filtrer' (liquids/data). This is also the stage where you should use the word in writing assignments to describe settings or processes accurately. It's a key word for reaching an intermediate level of descriptive French.
At the B2 level, 'tamiser' becomes a tool for sophisticated expression. You use it to describe subtle effects in literature or art. You might analyze how an author uses 'la lumière tamisée' to create a sense of mystery or intimacy in a scene. You are also aware of technical uses in fields like archaeology or geology. You can explain the process of 'tamisage' in detail. In discussions about social media or news, you might argue about the need to 'tamiser les sources' to avoid misinformation. Your command of the verb includes all tenses, including the 'subjonctif' ('Il faut que tu tamises la farine attentivement'). You understand the poetic value of the word and how it contributes to the 'clairobscur' effect in descriptions. You can use it to talk about the 'filtering' of memories or emotions over time.
At the C1 level, you use 'tamiser' with precision and stylistic flair. You understand its place in the history of the French language and its relationship to words like 'bluter' or 'sasser'. You can use it in high-level critiques of interior design, cinematography, or literature. You might write about 'la lumière tamisée des vieux cafés parisiens' to evoke a specific cultural nostalgia. In professional contexts, you use 'tamiser' to describe rigorous selection processes with a high degree of scrutiny. You are comfortable with the noun 'tamisage' and the more technical 'tamisat' (the material that has passed through). You can use the word to discuss the 'fine-tuning' of a project or a theory. Your usage is idiomatic and natural, showing a deep understanding of the word's physical and abstract dimensions.
At the C2 level, 'tamiser' is part of a vast, nuanced vocabulary that you use effortlessly. You can engage in philosophical discussions about how our perception 'tamise' reality, or how history 'tamise' the reputations of great figures. You might use it in a legal or scientific context to describe the meticulous separation of variables or evidence. You appreciate the word's sensory qualities and can use it to create rich, multi-layered descriptions in creative writing. You are aware of rare or regional variations and can explain the etymological roots of the word. For a C2 speaker, 'tamiser' is not just a verb; it's a concept of refinement, selection, and atmospheric control that can be applied to almost any field of human endeavor, from the most mundane kitchen task to the most abstract intellectual pursuit.

tamiser en 30 segundos

  • Tamiser means to sift dry ingredients like flour or sand using a sieve to refine the texture.
  • It also describes filtering light through a shade or curtain to create a soft, muted atmosphere.
  • Commonly used in cooking, construction, archaeology, and interior design contexts.
  • It is a regular -er verb and its past participle 'tamisé' often functions as an adjective.

The French verb tamiser is a multifaceted term primarily associated with the physical act of sifting or straining. At its core, it refers to the process of passing a substance, usually dry or granular, through a tamis (a sieve or sifter) to separate larger particles from smaller ones or to aerate a material. In the culinary world, this is an essential technique used to ensure that flour, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar is free of lumps, leading to a smoother texture in delicate pastries and sauces. However, the utility of tamiser extends far beyond the kitchen. It is frequently used in construction and archaeology to describe the screening of sand, soil, or gravel to find specific elements or to refine the material quality. Beyond the physical, the word undergoes a beautiful metaphorical shift when applied to light. When light is 'tamisée,' it means it has been softened, filtered, or dimmed by a medium like a curtain, a lampshade, or even the canopy of a forest. This creates a subdued, gentle atmosphere often sought after in interior design or romantic settings.

Culinary Context
The most common everyday use involves baking. One might say, 'Il faut tamiser la farine pour que le gâteau soit léger' (You must sift the flour so the cake is light). Here, the action is practical and technical.

Pour obtenir une pâte lisse, n'oubliez pas de tamiser le sucre glace.

Atmospheric Context
In literature and design, it describes the filtering of light. 'La lumière tamisée par les rideaux créait une ambiance paisible' (The light filtered by the curtains created a peaceful atmosphere).

Les archéologues ont dû tamiser des tonnes de terre pour trouver ces perles.

Industrial/Technical Context
In gardening or masonry, sifting soil or sand to remove stones is a vital step in preparation. It ensures the purity and consistency of the substrate.

Le soleil couchant tamisait ses rayons à travers les feuillages denses.

Le chef demande de tamiser le cacao sur le tiramisu juste avant de servir.

Using tamiser correctly involves understanding whether you are performing a physical action on a substance or describing an effect on light. As a transitive verb, it always takes a direct object—the thing being sifted or the light being filtered. For beginners, the most direct construction is [Subject] + [tamiser] + [Object]. For example, 'Je tamise la farine' (I am sifting the flour). In more advanced contexts, you might see it in the passive voice or as a participle modifying a noun. The versatility of the word allows it to appear in imperative forms in recipes ('Tamisez le mélange') or in descriptive prose ('Une lueur tamisée').

Direct Action (Cooking)
When following a recipe, the verb is usually in the infinitive or imperative. 'Tamisez ensemble la farine, le sel et la levure' (Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder).

Elle a passé l'après-midi à tamiser le sable pour son nouveau jardin zen.

Describing Atmosphere
Here, the verb often describes how an object interacts with light. 'L'abat-jour tamise la lumière de l'ampoule trop vive' (The lampshade softens the light of the too-bright bulb).

Il est préférable de tamiser les faits avant de tirer des conclusions hâtives.

Metaphorical Sifting
In intellectual contexts, 'tamiser' can mean to carefully examine or filter information. It implies a rigorous selection process.

Nous devons tamiser les candidatures pour ne retenir que les meilleures.

Les persiennes permettent de tamiser la clarté du jour sans occulter la vue.

If you spend any time in a French boulangerie or pâtisserie, or if you watch French cooking shows like 'Le Meilleur Pâtissier', you will hear tamiser constantly. It is a fundamental verb for any chef. Beyond the kitchen, you will encounter it in the world of interior design and architecture. A real estate agent might describe a room as having 'une belle lumière tamisée,' suggesting a cozy, high-end feel. In the world of art and photography, 'tamiser la lumière' is a technical necessity to avoid harsh shadows. You might also hear it in more academic or investigative settings, where researchers talk about 'tamiser les preuves' (sifting through evidence) or 'tamiser les archives' to find a specific historical document. It is a word that bridges the gap between manual labor and aesthetic refinement.

In the Kitchen
Chefs emphasize this step for macaroons or soufflés. 'Si vous ne tamisez pas la poudre d'amande, les coques ne seront pas lisses.'

Dans les bars branchés, on aime tamiser les lumières pour créer une ambiance intimiste.

On Construction Sites
Workers sift sand to prepare mortar. 'Il faut tamiser le sable pour enlever les impuretés avant de faire le ciment.'

L'enquêteur a dû tamiser tous les indices pour trouver le coupable.

In Literature
Authors use it to describe the passage of time or the fading of memories. 'Le temps tamise nos souvenirs, ne laissant que l'essentiel.'

Les jardiniers utilisent un grand crible pour tamiser le compost.

Il est nécessaire de tamiser les informations qui circulent sur les réseaux sociaux.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing tamiser with filtrer (to filter) or passer (to pass/strain). While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. Filtrer is typically used for liquids (like filtering coffee or water) or for abstract concepts like filtering internet content. Tamiser is specifically for dry solids using a mesh or for light. Another mistake is using 'tamiser' when you mean 'trier' (to sort). 'Trier' involves categorizing items, whereas 'tamiser' is about physical separation based on size through a screen. Additionally, learners sometimes forget the agreement of the past participle when used as an adjective. It must match the gender and number of the noun: 'une lumière tamisée' (feminine singular) but 'des éclairages tamisés' (masculine plural).

Tamiser vs. Filtrer
Don't say 'tamiser l'eau' for drinking; say 'filtrer l'eau'. Use 'tamiser' for flour or sand.

Attention : on ne dit pas tamiser ses emails, on dit 'trier' ou 'filtrer' ses emails.

Tamiser vs. Passer
In cooking, 'passer au chinois' is for straining liquids with a fine conical strainer. 'Tamiser' is for dry ingredients with a flat sieve.

Ne confondez pas tamiser (sift) et 'parsemer' (sprinkle).

The 'Light' Trap
Learners often try to use 'dimmer' (the verb) as 'dimmer la lumière'. In French, you 'tamise' or 'baisse' la lumière.

Une erreur courante est d'oublier le 'e' final à 'lumière tamisée'.

On ne tamise pas une sauce, on la 'filtre' ou on la 'passe'.

French offers a rich palette of verbs for the act of separating and refining. While tamiser is the most common for sifting, other words offer specific nuances. Cribler is often used for larger-scale sifting, like gravel or large quantities of grain, and carries a secondary meaning of 'riddling' (as in 'criblé de balles'—riddled with bullets). Sasser is an archaic or highly technical term for sifting grain. Bluter is specifically used for sifting flour in a mill to separate it from the bran. When talking about light, synonyms include adoucir (to soften), voiler (to veil), or estomper (to blur/dim). Understanding these differences helps you choose the most precise word for your context.

Tamiser vs. Cribler
Tamiser uses a fine 'tamis'; cribler uses a coarser 'crible'. Cribler is for stones, tamiser is for sand.

Pour la farine, on utilise tamiser, mais pour le blé au moulin, on disait autrefois 'bluter'.

Tamiser vs. Filtrer
Filtrer is for liquids or gases; tamiser is for solids or light through a screen.

On peut tamiser le bruit avec des rideaux épais, bien que 'feutrer' soit plus précis.

Tamiser vs. Trier
Trier (to sort) involves choice and categorization; tamiser is a mechanical separation by size.

Le verbe 'épurer' est une alternative noble à tamiser quand on parle d'idées.

On utilise parfois 'passer au crible' comme synonyme figuré de tamiser.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

In the Middle Ages, sieves were often made from horsehair. The word 'tamis' has remained remarkably stable in form for nearly a thousand years.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ta.mi.ze/
US /tæ.mi.zeɪ/
The stress is naturally on the final syllable in French.
Rima con
manger parler viser briser épouser arroser oser poser
Errores comunes
  • Pronouncing the final 'r' (it is silent).
  • Confusing the 's' sound with 'sh'.
  • Making the 'mi' sound like 'my'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially in recipes.

Escritura 3/5

Requires remembering the -er conjugation and the figurative meanings.

Expresión oral 3/5

Pronunciation is easy, but using it metaphorically takes practice.

Escucha 2/5

Clear pronunciation, often used in cooking media.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

la farine la lumière passer préparer le sucre

Aprende después

cribler filtrer adoucir la pénombre le mélange

Avanzado

le blutage le sassement l'épuration l'atténuation

Gramática que debes saber

Regular -er verb conjugation

Je tamise, tu tamises, il tamise...

Past participle agreement with preceding direct object

La farine que j'ai tamisée.

Adjective agreement

Des lumières tamisées (plural).

Infinitive as imperative in recipes

Tamiser la farine et le sel.

Passive voice construction

La lumière fut tamisée par les nuages.

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Je tamise la farine pour le gâteau.

I am sifting the flour for the cake.

Present tense, first person singular.

2

Tu tamises le sucre ?

Are you sifting the sugar?

Question form, present tense.

3

Il faut tamiser le cacao.

It is necessary to sift the cocoa.

Infinitive after 'il faut'.

4

Tamisez bien le mélange.

Sift the mixture well.

Imperative plural/formal.

5

Elle ne tamise pas le sel.

She does not sift the salt.

Negative construction.

6

Nous tamisons ensemble.

We are sifting together.

Present tense, first person plural.

7

Voulez-vous tamiser ?

Do you want to sift?

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

8

Le tamis est sur la table.

The sieve is on the table.

Noun usage.

1

J'ai tamisé la farine ce matin.

I sifted the flour this morning.

Passé composé.

2

La lumière est tamisée dans le salon.

The light is dimmed in the living room.

Adjective usage, feminine singular.

3

Est-ce que tu as tamisé le sable ?

Did you sift the sand?

Passé composé question.

4

Ils tamisent la terre pour le jardin.

They are sifting the soil for the garden.

Present tense, third person plural.

5

On utilise un tamis pour tamiser.

One uses a sieve to sift.

General subject 'on'.

6

Elle aimait tamiser la lumière avec des rideaux.

She liked to dim the light with curtains.

Imparfait.

7

Nous allons tamiser le sucre glace.

We are going to sift the icing sugar.

Futur proche.

8

C'est une ambiance tamisée.

It's a muted atmosphere.

Adjective usage.

1

Le rideau permet de tamiser la clarté du soleil.

The curtain allows for sifting the brightness of the sun.

Present tense describing function.

2

Il a tamisé les dossiers pour trouver l'erreur.

He sifted through the files to find the error.

Figurative use, passé composé.

3

Avant de peindre, il faut tamiser les pigments.

Before painting, you must sift the pigments.

Technical instruction.

4

La forêt tamisait les rayons du soleil couchant.

The forest filtered the rays of the setting sun.

Imparfait, poetic use.

5

Elle tamisera le compost demain.

She will sift the compost tomorrow.

Simple future.

6

Nous devrions tamiser nos sources d'information.

We should sift our sources of information.

Conditional, figurative use.

7

Les archéologues ont tamisé la terre avec soin.

The archaeologists sifted the earth carefully.

Passé composé with adverb.

8

Une lampe avec un abat-jour tamise mieux la lumière.

A lamp with a shade filters the light better.

Comparison.

1

L'auteur tamise les souvenirs d'enfance à travers le prisme de la nostalgie.

The author filters childhood memories through the prism of nostalgia.

Literary figurative use.

2

Il est impératif que vous tamisiez la farine trois fois.

It is imperative that you sift the flour three times.

Subjonctif présent.

3

Le dispositif sert à tamiser les particules fines.

The device serves to sift fine particles.

Technical description.

4

La brume tamisait les contours du paysage.

The mist blurred the contours of the landscape.

Imparfait, descriptive.

5

En tamisant les faits, la vérité finit par apparaître.

By sifting the facts, the truth eventually appears.

Gérondif.

6

Les données ont été tamisées par un algorithme puissant.

The data was sifted by a powerful algorithm.

Passive voice.

7

On peut tamiser l'éclat d'un bijou avec un fini mat.

One can dim the sparkle of a jewel with a matte finish.

Aesthetic use.

8

Elle a tamisé son discours pour ne pas choquer l'audience.

She filtered her speech so as not to shock the audience.

Metaphorical use.

1

Le temps a tamisé ses colères, n'en laissant qu'une amertume diffuse.

Time has sifted his anger, leaving only a diffuse bitterness.

Highly abstract figurative use.

2

La verrière, encrassée par les ans, tamisait une lumière glauque.

The glass roof, grimy with years, filtered a murky light.

Descriptive literary style.

3

Il convient de tamiser les apports théoriques avant toute application pratique.

It is advisable to sift theoretical contributions before any practical application.

Formal academic tone.

4

Le tamisage systématique des sédiments a révélé des micro-fossiles.

The systematic sifting of sediments revealed micro-fossiles.

Noun form in a scientific context.

5

Elle savait tamiser ses émotions pour rester professionnelle.

She knew how to filter her emotions to remain professional.

Psychological nuance.

6

Les persiennes tamisaient le jour, créant des zébrures sur le parquet.

The shutters filtered the daylight, creating stripes on the floor.

Evocative description.

7

Le processus de tamisage est crucial pour la pureté du minerai.

The sifting process is crucial for the purity of the ore.

Industrial process.

8

On ne saurait tamiser la vérité sans risquer de l'altérer.

One cannot sift the truth without risking altering it.

Philosophical statement.

1

L'œuvre de Proust tamise la réalité à travers les mailles serrées de la mémoire involontaire.

Proust's work sifts reality through the tight meshes of involuntary memory.

Literary analysis.

2

Le politique doit savoir tamiser les revendications populaires pour en extraire le consensus.

The politician must know how to sift popular demands to extract a consensus.

Political science context.

3

La canopée équatoriale tamise si radicalement la lumière que le sol reste dans une pénombre éternelle.

The equatorial canopy filters light so radically that the ground remains in eternal gloom.

Scientific/geographical description.

4

Le crible de l'histoire finit toujours par tamiser les gloires éphémères.

The sieve of history always ends up sifting through ephemeral glories.

Metaphorical idiom.

5

Il a fallu tamiser des pétaoctets de données pour isoler ce signal binaire.

It was necessary to sift through petabytes of data to isolate this binary signal.

Modern technology context.

6

Sa pudeur tamisait l'expression de ses sentiments les plus vifs.

Her modesty filtered the expression of her most intense feelings.

Abstract character description.

7

Le tamisage moléculaire permet de séparer les gaz selon leur taille.

Molecular sieving allows for the separation of gases according to their size.

Highly technical scientific use.

8

L'esthétique de ce film repose sur une lumière savamment tamisée par des filtres de soie.

The aesthetics of this film rely on light skillfully filtered by silk filters.

Artistic critique.

Colocaciones comunes

tamiser la farine
lumière tamisée
tamiser le sable
tamiser les faits
tamiser le sucre glace
rideaux pour tamiser
tamiser les preuves
tamiser les cendres
tamiser au crible
tamiser la poudre d'amande

Frases Comunes

passer au tamis

— To sift or to examine very closely.

Tout le budget a été passé au tamis.

une ambiance tamisée

— A soft, dimly lit environment.

Le restaurant offre une ambiance tamisée.

tamiser ses propos

— To measure or filter one's words.

Il a dû tamiser ses propos devant le patron.

le tamis de la mémoire

— The way memory filters events over time.

Les détails se perdent dans le tamis de la mémoire.

tamiser le regard

— To look through half-closed eyes or a filter.

Elle tamisait son regard pour mieux voir au loin.

tamiser l'air

— To filter air through a mesh.

Un grillage pour tamiser l'air entrant.

tamiser la vérité

— To present only parts of the truth.

Les médias ont tendance à tamiser la vérité.

tamiser les rêves

— A poetic way to describe filtering thoughts.

L'attrape-rêves est censé tamiser les rêves.

tamiser le compost

— To refine fertilizer for garden use.

C'est le moment de tamiser le compost.

tamiser les rayons

— To filter sunbeams.

Le feuillage tamise les rayons du soleil.

Se confunde a menudo con

tamiser vs filtrer

Filtrer is for liquids/data; tamiser is for solids/light through mesh.

tamiser vs tasser

Tasser means to pack down, which is the opposite of aerating by sifting.

tamiser vs trier

Trier is to sort by category; tamiser is to separate by size.

Modismos y expresiones

"Passer au crible"

— To examine something with extreme thoroughness, like using a sieve.

Les enquêteurs ont passé la scène au crible.

neutral
"Avoir un cerveau comme un tamis"

— To have a memory like a sieve (to forget everything).

J'oublie tout, j'ai un cerveau comme un tamis !

informal
"Tamiser le bon grain de l'ivraie"

— To separate the good from the bad (biblical origin).

Il faut tamiser le bon grain de l'ivraie dans ce projet.

literary
"Être passé au tamis"

— To have been strictly selected or vetted.

Chaque candidat est passé au tamis de la direction.

formal
"Une mémoire de tamis"

— A very poor memory.

Avec ma mémoire de tamis, j'ai encore perdu mes clés.

informal
"Tamiser la poussière"

— To waste time on insignificant details.

Arrête de tamiser la poussière et avance !

informal
"Laisser passer au tamis"

— To let only the essentials through.

Son éducation a laissé passer au tamis les meilleures valeurs.

metaphorical
"Un regard tamisé"

— A soft, gentle look.

Il la regardait d'un œil tamisé d'affection.

poetic
"Tamiser les écus"

— To count money very carefully (old expression).

L'avare passait ses nuits à tamiser ses écus.

archaic
"Le crible de la raison"

— The filter of logical thinking.

Il faut passer ces idées au crible de la raison.

formal

Fácil de confundir

tamiser vs passer

Both involve a tool to separate things.

Passer is generic; tamiser specifically implies a mesh sieve.

Passe la sauce, mais tamise la farine.

tamiser vs cribler

Both mean to sift.

Cribler is for larger, coarser materials.

On crible le gravier, on tamise le sable.

tamiser vs sasser

Synonyms in grain sifting.

Sasser is almost exclusively for grain and is rare now.

Le paysan sassait son blé.

tamiser vs bluter

Both for flour.

Bluter is the industrial milling process.

Le moulin blute la farine automatiquement.

tamiser vs adoucir

Both for light.

Adoucir is general; tamiser implies a filter or screen.

L'abat-jour tamise et adoucit la lumière.

Patrones de oraciones

A1

Tamisez [substance].

Tamisez la farine.

A2

J'ai tamisé [substance].

J'ai tamisé le sucre.

B1

[Objet] tamise la lumière.

Le rideau tamise la lumière.

B1

Une lumière tamisée.

Il y a une lumière tamisée.

B2

Il faut tamiser les [abstractions].

Il faut tamiser les informations.

B2

En tamisant [substance], on obtient...

En tamisant le sable, on obtient une poudre fine.

C1

[Sujet] tamise [émotion/souvenir].

Le temps tamise nos regrets.

C2

Le tamisage de [données] révèle...

Le tamisage des archives révèle des secrets.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

le tamis (sieve)
le tamisage (the act of sifting)
le tamiseur (the person/machine sifting)
le tamisat (the sifted material)

Verbos

tamiser (to sift)
retamiser (to sift again)

Adjetivos

tamisé (sifted/muted)
tamisable (that can be sifted)

Relacionado

le crible
le sas
la passoire
le filtre
le blutage

Cómo usarlo

frequency

Common in specific domains (cooking, design).

Errores comunes
  • Tamiser l'eau Filtrer l'eau

    Tamiser is for solids or light; filtrer is for liquids.

  • Une lumière tamisé Une lumière tamisée

    The adjective must agree with the feminine noun 'lumière'.

  • Tamiser les grumeaux Tamiser la farine (pour enlever les grumeaux)

    You sift the flour, not the lumps themselves (though the lumps stay in the sieve).

  • Je tamise mes vêtements Je trie mes vêtements

    Sorting clothes is 'trier', not 'tamiser'.

  • Tamiser le café Filtrer le café

    Coffee is a liquid process involving a filter.

Consejos

Baking Success

Always tamise your dry ingredients for sponge cakes to ensure they rise properly and have no lumps.

Atmosphere

To create a 'lumière tamisée' at home, use linen shades or thin curtains instead of bare bulbs.

Agreement

Remember that 'tamisée' needs an 'e' when describing 'la lumière' because 'lumière' is feminine.

Beyond the Kitchen

Use 'tamiser' when talking about archaeology or gardening to sound more precise than 'nettoyer'.

Thinking Critically

Think of 'tamiser les infos' as a way to describe critical thinking—separating the truth from the noise.

Silent R

Never pronounce the 'r' at the end of the infinitive 'tamiser'. It ends in an 'ay' sound.

The Tool

The tool is 'un tamis'. Don't confuse it with 'une passoire' (a colander) which has bigger holes.

Scale

For industrial sifting of huge rocks, use the verb 'cribler' instead of 'tamiser'.

Style

'Tamiser' is a more poetic and descriptive word than 'filtrer' when describing natural light.

Forgetfulness

Use the idiom 'mémoire de tamis' to joke about your own forgetfulness in French.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'TAMing' the 'SIZE' of the particles. You 'tami-se' to make them smaller and more uniform.

Asociación visual

Imagine a baker shaking a sieve over a bowl, creating a cloud of white dust, or sunlight coming through a mesh screen.

Word Web

farine sucre lumière tamis pâtisserie rideaux sable filtrer

Desafío

Try to use 'tamiser' in a sentence about your favorite hobby today.

Origen de la palabra

From the Old French 'tamis', which likely comes from a Frankish or Germanic root (*tamis) meaning a sieve made of hair or fabric.

Significado original: To separate particles using a hair-mesh tool.

Indo-European > Germanic root > Old French.

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities, but note that 'passer au crible' (related) can sound quite harsh in an investigation.

English speakers use 'sift' for flour and 'dim/filter' for light. French uses one elegant word for both.

Marcel Proust's descriptions of light. French cooking shows like 'Le Meilleur Pâtissier'. Impressionist paintings showing filtered light.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

In the kitchen

  • Tamisez la farine
  • Saupoudrer avec un tamis
  • Éviter les grumeaux
  • Sucre glace tamisé

Interior Design

  • Lumière tamisée
  • Rideaux occultants
  • Ambiance feutrée
  • Abat-jour en tissu

Construction/Gardening

  • Tamiser le sable
  • Enlever les cailloux
  • Terreau tamisé
  • Grillage fin

Archaeology

  • Tamiser les sédiments
  • Recherche de vestiges
  • Tamis à eau
  • Analyse de sol

Intellectual work

  • Tamiser les données
  • Sélection rigoureuse
  • Passer au crible
  • Filtrer les infos

Inicios de conversación

"Préfères-tu cuisiner avec ou sans tamiser la farine ?"

"Aimes-tu l'ambiance tamisée des vieux cinémas ?"

"Est-ce que tu as déjà tamisé du sable à la plage pour trouver des coquillages ?"

"Penses-tu qu'il est nécessaire de tamiser les informations sur Internet ?"

"Quelle couleur de rideaux tamise le mieux la lumière selon toi ?"

Temas para diario

Décris une pièce de ta maison où la lumière est agréablement tamisée.

Raconte une expérience où tu as dû tamiser une grande quantité de données ou d'objets.

Pourquoi est-il important de tamiser la farine dans la pâtisserie française ?

Imagine que ton cerveau soit un tamis. Que choisirais-tu de garder et que laisserais-tu passer ?

Écris une recette simple en utilisant le verbe tamiser au moins deux fois.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, for coffee you use 'filtrer' because it is a liquid passing through a paper or metal filter. 'Tamiser' is for dry powders.

It is the noun for a sieve or sifter. It's the physical tool you use to 'tamiser'.

You can say 'tamiser la lumière' or 'baisser l'intensité lumineuse'. 'Tamiser' implies using a shade or filter.

No, it is used in construction (sand), archaeology (earth), and metaphorically for information or light.

Yes, it's the past participle used as an adjective, very common in 'lumière tamisée'.

'Tamisage' is the action or process. 'Tamisat' is the material that has successfully passed through the sieve.

Only metaphorically, like 'tamiser les candidats', meaning to screen or filter them.

Yes, it is a regular -er verb like 'chanter'.

It's an idiom meaning someone who forgets things very easily (a memory like a sieve).

No, that's 'saupoudrer'. 'Tamiser' is the act of sifting through the tool.

Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas

writing

Translate: 'I am sifting the flour.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'The light is soft.' (use tamisée)

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'He sifted the sand.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'We need to sift the facts.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Sift the cocoa over the cake.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'A memory like a sieve.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'The curtains dim the sun.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Sifted sugar.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'She filters her emotions.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Archaeologists sift the earth.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write a sentence with 'tamiser' in the future tense.

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write a sentence with 'tamiser' in the subjunctive.

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'The sifted sand is fine.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'They were sifting the compost.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'It is a muted atmosphere.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Don't forget to sift.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'The forest filters the light.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'A professional sifter.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'The systematic sifting.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Sift the icing sugar.'

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

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Je tamise la farine.'

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Une lumière tamisée.'

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Expliquez pourquoi on tamise la farine.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Décrivez votre salon idéal avec 'tamiser'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Utilisez 'tamiser' dans une phrase au futur.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Faites une phrase avec 'mémoire de tamis'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Tamisez le sucre glace.'

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Comment dit-on 'sift through information' ?

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Décrivez l'action d'un archéologue.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Le tamisage est fini.'

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Utilisez le subjonctif avec 'tamiser'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Faites une phrase avec 'cribler'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Rideaux tamisants.'

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Expliquez le mot 'tamisat'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Utilisez 'tamiser' de façon poétique.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Prononcez : 'Passer au crible'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Faites une phrase avec 'bluter'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Décrivez un restaurant chic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Utilisez le gérondif 'en tamisant'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Dites 'I sifted' au passé composé.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Tamisez la farine.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Lumière tamisée.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Il tamise le sable.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Nous tamisons les infos.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Passer au tamis.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Ambiance tamisée.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Tamisage manuel.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Sucre tamisé.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Le tamis est cassé.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Rideaux pour tamiser.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Tamisez doucement.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Farine tamisée trois fois.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Lumière tamisée par les feuilles.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Un petit tamis bleu.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Tamiser les cendres.'

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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