When you're speaking French at a C2 level, you'll find that pousser, while fundamentally meaning 'to push,' has a much broader range of idiomatic uses. It can refer to the growth of plants ('faire pousser'), encouraging someone ('pousser quelqu'un à faire quelque chose'), or even extending something further, like a wall or an idea ('pousser un mur', 'pousser une idée'). You might also hear it in expressions like 'pousser un soupir' (to sigh) or 'pousser des cris' (to cry out). Understanding these nuanced applications moves you beyond the literal and into a more natural, fluent command of the language.
§ What 'pousser' means
- DEFINITION
- The primary meaning of 'pousser' is 'to push'. This is the most common and direct translation you'll encounter. Think of pushing a door, a car, or even someone playfully. It signifies applying force to move something away from you.
However, like many verbs, 'pousser' goes beyond this single meaning. It also implies 'to grow' when talking about plants, hair, or even a business. You'll see it used for encouraging someone, or for a plant sprouting. Understanding these different contexts is key to truly grasping 'pousser'.
§ When to use 'pousser' (to push)
The most straightforward use of 'pousser' is when you're talking about exerting physical force to move something. This is a very common action in daily life, so you'll hear and use 'pousser' a lot. It's a regular '-er' verb, so its conjugations are predictable, which is good news for beginners!
Il faut pousser la porte pour l'ouvrir. (You have to push the door to open it.)
On a dû pousser la voiture en panne. (We had to push the broken-down car.)
You can also use 'pousser' in a more figurative sense when encouraging someone to do something, or urging them forward.
Mes parents m'ont toujours poussé à faire de mon mieux. (My parents always pushed me to do my best.)
§ When to use 'pousser' (to grow)
This is where 'pousser' gets interesting. While its primary meaning is 'to push', it's also very commonly used to describe the act of growing, especially for plants. Think of a seed pushing its way out of the soil to grow into a plant.
Les fleurs commencent à pousser au printemps. (The flowers start to grow in spring.)
Mes cheveux ont beaucoup poussé. (My hair has grown a lot.)
It can also be used for other things that grow or develop, such as a business or a rumor.
Son entreprise a bien poussé ces dernières années. (His business has grown well in recent years.)
§ Common expressions with 'pousser'
French is rich with idiomatic expressions, and 'pousser' is no exception. Here are a few you might encounter:
Pousser un soupir: To heave a sigh.
Elle a poussé un long soupir de soulagement. (She heaved a long sigh of relief.)
Pousser un cri: To let out a cry/scream.
L'enfant a poussé un cri de joie. (The child let out a cry of joy.)
Pousser à bout: To drive to the limit, to exasperate.
Son comportement m'a poussé à bout. (His behavior drove me to the limit/exasperated me.)
As you can see, 'pousser' is a versatile verb with more than one meaning. By paying attention to the context, you'll quickly learn to distinguish between 'to push' and 'to grow' and master its use in French conversations.
Alright, let's talk about the French verb pousser. It's a versatile word that you'll hear and use a lot. While its primary meaning is 'to push,' it also has some other common uses that are good to know. We'll break down how to use it correctly in sentences, covering grammar, common phrases, and some helpful tips.
- DEFINITION
- To push; to grow.
§ Basic Usage: To Push
The most straightforward meaning of pousser is 'to push.' You can use it when you're physically moving something by applying force, just like in English.
Il faut pousser la porte pour l'ouvrir. (You need to push the door to open it.)
Ne pousse pas ton frère! (Don't push your brother!)
§ To Grow (Plants, Hair, etc.)
This is where pousser gets a bit more interesting. It's very commonly used to talk about things growing, especially plants, hair, or even a beard. Think of it as 'pushing up' from the ground or out from the skin.
Les fleurs poussent vite au printemps. (The flowers grow quickly in spring.)
Mes cheveux ont beaucoup poussé. (My hair has grown a lot.)
§ To Urge or Incite (Figurative)
Pousser can also be used in a more figurative sense, meaning 'to urge,' 'to encourage,' or even 'to provoke' someone to do something. In this context, it often implies a strong suggestion or a bit of pressure.
Il l'a poussé à accepter le poste. (He urged her to accept the position.)
Ses paroles l'ont poussé à la colère. (His words provoked him to anger.)
§ Common Expressions with Pousser
French, like any language, has idiomatic expressions. Here are a couple of common ones using pousser:
- Pousser un soupir: This means 'to let out a sigh.' You're literally 'pushing out' a sigh.
Elle a poussé un soupir de soulagement. (She let out a sigh of relief.)
- Pousser un cri: This translates to 'to let out a cry' or 'to scream.'
L'enfant a poussé un cri de joie. (The child let out a cry of joy.)
§ Grammar Notes: Transitive and Intransitive
Pousser can be both a transitive and an intransitive verb, depending on the context.
- Transitive: When it takes a direct object (e.g., 'to push the door'), it's transitive.
Il pousse la poussette. (He pushes the stroller.)
- Intransitive: When it doesn't take a direct object (e.g., 'The flowers grow'), it's intransitive.
Les champignons poussent dans la forêt. (Mushrooms grow in the forest.)
Understanding these different uses of pousser will greatly improve your comprehension and ability to speak more naturally in French. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll master it in no time!
How Formal Is It?
"Veuillez pousser la porte pour entrer. (Please push the door to enter.)"
"Il faut pousser ce meuble pour le déplacer. (You need to push this furniture to move it.)"
"Allez, pousse ! On va être en retard. (Come on, push it! We're going to be late.)"
"Pousse le petit train pour qu'il avance. (Push the little train so it moves forward.)"
"Arrête de me pousser à bout ! (Stop pushing my buttons/driving me crazy!)"
발음 가이드
- Confusing 'pousser' (to push) with ' tirer' (to pull).
- Incorrect pronunciation of the 'ou' sound, which is like the 'oo' in 'moon'.
- Incorrect pronunciation of the 'er' ending, which sounds like the 'ay' in 'say'.
난이도
Short and common verb form.
Regular -er verb conjugation, straightforward spelling.
Standard pronunciation, common usage in daily conversation.
Clear and distinct pronunciation, frequently encountered.
다음에 무엇을 배울까
선수 학습
다음에 배울 것
고급
알아야 할 문법
The verb "pousser" can be used transitively, meaning it takes a direct object. For example, "pousser la porte" (to push the door).
Il a poussé la porte pour entrer. (He pushed the door to enter.)
It can also be used intransitively, meaning it doesn't take a direct object, often to describe growth or movement. For instance, "Les plantes poussent vite" (The plants grow fast).
Les fleurs poussent dans le jardin. (The flowers grow in the garden.)
When used reflexively, "se pousser" means to move oneself, to get out of the way, or to push oneself. For example, "Pousse-toi !" (Move over!).
Les enfants se sont poussés pour voir le spectacle. (The children pushed themselves forward to see the show.)
"Pousser à" means to incite or encourage someone to do something. For example, "pousser quelqu'un à faire quelque chose" (to push someone to do something).
Son ambition le pousse à travailler dur. (His ambition pushes him to work hard.)
In some contexts, "pousser" can mean to emit or let out a sound, like "pousser un cri" (to utter a cry).
Elle a poussé un soupir de soulagement. (She let out a sigh of relief.)
수준별 예문
Il faut pousser la porte pour entrer.
You have to push the door to enter.
Direct object: la porte.
Les plantes poussent vite au printemps.
Plants grow quickly in spring.
Intransitive verb, meaning 'to grow'.
Elle a poussé un cri de surprise.
She let out a cry of surprise.
Figurative use with 'un cri' (a cry).
Ne pousse pas tes limites trop loin.
Don't push your limits too far.
Figurative use, meaning 'to stretch' or 'to exceed'.
Le vent a poussé les nuages vers l'est.
The wind pushed the clouds to the east.
Direct object: les nuages.
Cette nouvelle chanson va pousser la carrière de l'artiste.
This new song will boost the artist's career.
Figurative use, meaning 'to boost' or 'to advance'.
Il faut pousser la réflexion un peu plus loin.
We need to push the reflection a bit further.
Figurative use with 'la réflexion' (the thought/reflection).
Les enfants adorent pousser les petits chariots au supermarché.
Children love pushing the little carts at the supermarket.
Direct object: les petits chariots.
Il a dû pousser la porte très fort pour l'ouvrir, car elle était coincée.
He had to push the door very hard to open it, because it was stuck.
Here 'pousser' means 'to push'.
Les racines des arbres peuvent pousser à travers le béton, c'est impressionnant.
Tree roots can push through concrete, it's impressive.
In this context, 'pousser' means 'to grow' or 'to push through'.
Le jardinier a dit que les tomates allaient bien pousser cette année grâce au soleil.
The gardener said the tomatoes would grow well this year thanks to the sun.
Here, 'pousser' means 'to grow'.
Il faut se dépêcher, nous devons pousser un peu pour arriver à l'heure.
We need to hurry, we have to push a bit to arrive on time.
'Pousser' can mean 'to hurry' or 'to push oneself' in an idiomatic sense.
Elle a poussé un soupir de soulagement en apprenant la bonne nouvelle.
She let out a sigh of relief when she heard the good news.
To 'pousser un soupir' means 'to let out a sigh'.
Les enfants ont poussé des cris de joie en voyant les cadeaux de Noël.
The children let out shouts of joy when they saw the Christmas presents.
To 'pousser des cris' means 'to let out shouts/cries'.
Malgré les difficultés, il a continué à pousser son projet jusqu'à la réussite.
Despite the difficulties, he continued to push his project until success.
Here 'pousser' means 'to push forward' or 'to promote' a project.
La foule a commencé à pousser pour entrer dans la salle de concert.
The crowd started to push to get into the concert hall.
In this instance, 'pousser' means 'to push' in the sense of physically moving forward in a crowd.
자주 혼동되는 단어
While 'puller' isn't a French verb, the sound can lead to misassociation with French verbs like 'fouler' (to sprain) or the action of 'tirer' (to pull).
The direct English translation can sometimes lead learners to overuse 'pousser' in contexts where 'appuyer' (to press) would be more appropriate.
English speakers might assume a one-to-one correspondence, but French has several verbs with nuances around 'pushing' (pousser, appuyer, repousser).
혼동하기 쉬운
Often confused with 'tirer' (to pull) by English speakers because 'push' and 'pull' signs can be confusingly similar, or due to direct translation errors.
'Pousser' means to exert force away from you to move something. Think of 'pushing' a door open.
Il faut pousser la porte pour entrer. (You have to push the door to enter.)
The direct opposite of 'pousser', this is often used incorrectly when 'pousser' is intended, especially on doors.
'Tirer' means to exert force towards you to move something. Think of 'pulling' a rope.
Tirez sur la poignée pour ouvrir le tiroir. (Pull on the handle to open the drawer.)
While similar in action to 'pousser', 'appuyer' often implies a lighter, more precise pressure, or to lean on something.
'Appuyer' means to press, lean, or support. You 'appuyer' on a button, but you 'pousser' a heavy box.
Appuyez sur le bouton pour démarrer la machine. (Press the button to start the machine.)
This is a derivative of 'pousser' but adds the prefix 're-', which often indicates repetition or reversal, leading to confusion about its exact meaning.
'Repousser' means to push back, repel, or postpone. It's not just 'pushing' again, but often pushing something *away* or *back*.
Il a repoussé l'échéance à la semaine prochaine. (He pushed back the deadline to next week.)
Sounds like 'puller' to some English speakers, which could lead to confusion with 'tirer' (to pull).
'Fouler' means to sprain, twist (an ankle), or to tread on something. It has no relation to pushing or pulling.
Elle s'est foulé la cheville en courant. (She sprained her ankle while running.)
팁
Basic meaning of pousser
The most common meaning of pousser is to push. Think of pushing a door or a shopping cart.
Pousser can mean to grow
Beyond just pushing, pousser can also mean 'to grow' (like plants or hair). For example, 'Les fleurs poussent au printemps' (The flowers grow in spring).
Pousser in figurative senses
You can use pousser to mean 'to urge' or 'to encourage' someone. 'Il m'a poussé à étudier' (He urged me to study).
Distinguish from 'tirer'
Don't confuse pousser (to push) with tirer (to pull). This is a common mistake for English speakers.
Pousser des cris
A common idiom is 'pousser des cris' which means 'to shout' or 'to cry out'. For example, 'Elle a poussé un cri de joie' (She cried out with joy).
Pousser un soupir
Another common phrase is 'pousser un soupir', meaning 'to sigh'. For example, 'Il a poussé un soupir de soulagement' (He sighed with relief).
Pousser à bout
The expression 'pousser à bout' means 'to push to the limit' or 'to provoke'. For example, 'Tu me pousses à bout!' (You're pushing me to my limit!).
Don't overtranslate 'push'
While pousser often means push, don't use it for every English phrase that uses 'push', like 'push for a decision' (which would be 'insister pour une décision').
Conjugation of pousser
Pousser is a regular -er verb. Its conjugations are straightforward. Remember to practice them to become comfortable using it in different tenses.
Context is key for pousser
Always pay attention to the context to understand which meaning of pousser is being used. Is it literally pushing, or is it growing, or urging?
암기하기
기억법
Think of someone saying 'Poo-SAY' to a dog to encourage it to push something with its nose. The sound 'poo' might remind you of pushing out air, and 'say' as in 'say it loud' (push your voice).
시각적 연상
Imagine a large, strong person struggling to push a very heavy 'pousse-pousse' (rickshaw) up a steep hill. The effort of pushing is very clear.
Word Web
챌린지
Describe three things you might 'pousser' in your daily life. For example, 'Je pousse mon caddie au supermarché.' (I push my shopping cart at the supermarket.)
셀프 테스트 36 질문
Choose the best translation for 'pousser'.
'Pousser' directly translates to 'to push' in English.
Which sentence correctly uses 'pousser' to mean 'to push a door'?
'Pousser la porte' means 'to push the door'. 'Tirer' means 'to pull'.
What is the opposite of 'pousser'?
'Pousser' means 'to push', and 'tirer' means 'to pull'. They are opposites.
The sentence 'Je pousse un gâteau.' means 'I am pushing a cake.'
Yes, 'pousser' means 'to push', so 'Je pousse un gâteau' accurately translates to 'I am pushing a cake.'
'Pousser' is typically used when you want something to move closer to you.
'Pousser' means to move something away from you. 'Tirer' is used to move something closer.
If someone says 'Pousse!', they are telling you to pull something.
'Pousse!' is the imperative form of 'pousser', meaning 'Push!'. They are telling you to push, not pull.
This sentence means 'You have to push the door.' It's a common phrase you'll use.
This means 'Don't push, please.' A polite way to ask people not to push.
This translates to 'I am going to push the cart.' A practical use of 'pousser'.
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing a time you had to push something or someone, literally or figuratively. Use 'pousser' at least twice.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hier, j'ai dû pousser ma voiture en panne jusqu'au garage le plus proche. C'était très difficile, mais j'ai réussi. Ensuite, j'ai dû pousser mon ami à faire ses devoirs car il était paresseux.
Imagine you are giving advice to a friend who wants to start a garden. Write two sentences using 'pousser' to talk about plants growing.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pour que tes légumes poussent bien, assure-toi qu'ils ont assez de soleil. Il faut aussi les arroser régulièrement pour les aider à pousser.
You are writing a story about someone trying to open a stubborn door. Write two sentences using 'pousser' to describe their action.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Il a essayé de pousser la lourde porte, mais elle ne bougeait pas. Il a dû pousser de toutes ses forces pour finalement l'ouvrir.
Que signifie 'poussé' dans ce contexte?
Read this passage:
L'adolescent n'arrivait pas à se décider pour ses études. Ses parents l'ont beaucoup poussé à choisir une carrière en médecine, car ils pensaient que c'était la meilleure option pour son avenir. Finalement, il a décidé de suivre ses propres passions, malgré la pression.
Que signifie 'poussé' dans ce contexte?
Dans ce contexte, 'poussé' est utilisé au sens figuré pour 'encourager fortement' ou 'faire pression sur quelqu'un'.
Dans ce contexte, 'poussé' est utilisé au sens figuré pour 'encourager fortement' ou 'faire pression sur quelqu'un'.
Quelle est la meilleure interprétation de 'le projet a enfin commencé à pousser'?
Read this passage:
Après des semaines de travail acharné, le projet a enfin commencé à pousser. Les nouvelles idées se sont multipliées et l'équipe a ressenti un regain d'énergie. C'était un signe que leurs efforts portaient leurs fruits.
Quelle est la meilleure interprétation de 'le projet a enfin commencé à pousser'?
Ici, 'pousser' est utilisé au sens figuré pour indiquer que le projet a commencé à prendre forme et à progresser, comme une plante qui pousse.
Ici, 'pousser' est utilisé au sens figuré pour indiquer que le projet a commencé à prendre forme et à progresser, comme une plante qui pousse.
Dans cette phrase, que fait le père avec l'aiguille des minutes?
Read this passage:
La vieille horloge grand-père était arrêtée depuis des années. Mon père a décidé de la réparer et, après plusieurs tentatives, il a dû pousser l'aiguille des minutes pour la remettre en marche. À sa grande surprise, l'horloge a commencé à fonctionner de nouveau.
Dans cette phrase, que fait le père avec l'aiguille des minutes?
Ici, 'pousser' est utilisé dans son sens primaire de 'appliquer une force pour déplacer quelque chose vers l'avant'.
Ici, 'pousser' est utilisé dans son sens primaire de 'appliquer une force pour déplacer quelque chose vers l'avant'.
Les événements récents l'ont ___ à prendre une décision radicale.
Here, 'poussé' is the past participle used with 'avoir' (implied 'ont') and agrees with the direct object 'l'' (referring to a masculine singular person). The meaning here is 'driven' or 'compelled'.
Il ne faut pas ___ les limites du possible si l'on veut réussir.
After 'il ne faut pas', an infinitive verb is required. The phrase 'pousser les limites' means to push the boundaries.
La rumeur a commencé à se ___ rapidement après sa publication.
The verb 'se pousser' in this context means 'to spread' or 'to grow', especially when talking about rumors or information. It's a reflexive verb.
Malgré les difficultés, il a continué à ___ pour atteindre ses objectifs.
After 'à', an infinitive verb is used. 'Pousser' here signifies to strive or to keep going with effort.
Les racines de cet arbre semblent ___ profondément dans le sol.
After 'semblent' (a verb of state), an infinitive is used. Here, 'pousser' refers to growth, implying that the roots are growing deeply.
Le vent s'est mis à ___ avec une force inouïe, pliant les arbres.
After 's'est mis à', an infinitive is required. 'Pousser' can be used to describe the action of wind or air moving strongly.
Face à la concurrence acharnée, l'entreprise doit innover et ___ ses limites pour rester pertinente sur le marché.
To 'repousser les limites' means to push the boundaries or limits.
Les événements récents ont ___ à une prise de conscience collective sur l'importance de la protection de l'environnement.
To 'pousser à' means to lead to or provoke, often used in the sense of urging an action or situation.
Malgré les difficultés, sa détermination inébranlable l'a ___ à persévérer et à atteindre ses objectifs.
In this context, 'pousser quelqu'un à faire quelque chose' means to incite or drive someone to do something.
Il est important de ne pas ___ les gens à bout, car cela peut avoir des conséquences imprévues.
To 'pousser quelqu'un à bout' means to drive someone to their wits' end or to push them too far.
La pression exercée par les syndicats a ___ le gouvernement à revoir sa position sur la réforme.
'Pousser' can also mean to compel or pressure someone into doing something.
Les rumeurs infondées ont ___ à la démission du directeur général.
Similar to 'pousser à' from a previous example, here it implies that the rumors led to the director's resignation.
Listen for how 'pousser' is used metaphorically for truth emerging.
Listen for 'pousser' in the context of urging or pressuring actions.
Listen for 'pousser' implying growth and realization of a project.
Read this aloud:
Comment poussez-vous votre équipe à atteindre des objectifs ambitieux sans les décourager?
Focus: poussez, décourager
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû pousser les limites pour obtenir un résultat exceptionnel.
Focus: pousser, limites, exceptionnel
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Selon vous, quel rôle les médias jouent-ils pour pousser l'opinion publique vers certaines idées?
Focus: rôle, poussent, opinion
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Basic meaning of pousser
The most common meaning of pousser is to push. Think of pushing a door or a shopping cart.
Pousser can mean to grow
Beyond just pushing, pousser can also mean 'to grow' (like plants or hair). For example, 'Les fleurs poussent au printemps' (The flowers grow in spring).
Pousser in figurative senses
You can use pousser to mean 'to urge' or 'to encourage' someone. 'Il m'a poussé à étudier' (He urged me to study).
Distinguish from 'tirer'
Don't confuse pousser (to push) with tirer (to pull). This is a common mistake for English speakers.
예시
In context, `pousser` expresses: to push.
관련 콘텐츠
관련 문법 규칙
관련 표현
false_friends 관련 단어
acheter
A2Primary meaning: to buy.
actuel
A2Primary meaning: current, present.
actuellement
A2Primary meaning: currently, nowadays.
affaire
A2Primary meaning: business, matter, deal.
ancien
A2Primary meaning: former, old.
annoyer
A2Primary meaning: to annoy.
assister
A2Primary meaning: to attend.
attendre
A2Primary meaning: to wait.
audience
A2Primary meaning: hearing, formal meeting.
avertir
A2Primary meaning: to warn, notify.
