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A2 verb #4,000 most common 12 min read

couler

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips couler in 30 Seconds

Explanation couler in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'couler' in its most basic physical contexts. Think of it as the word for 'flowing' or 'running' water. You will primarily use it to talk about everyday things like a water tap (le robinet), a river (la rivière), or a running nose (le nez qui coule). At this stage, you don't need to worry about the figurative meanings. Just remember that if water is moving continuously, it is 'couling.' You might also see it in the context of a boat in a very simple story. The most important thing for an A1 learner is to recognize the word when they hear it in a house or see it in a simple sentence about nature. You should also learn the basic present tense: 'l'eau coule.' It is a regular -ER verb, which makes it easy to conjugate. Focus on the connection between the word and the visual of liquid movement. If you see a picture of a waterfall, the word 'couler' should come to mind. If you see a child with a cold, 'le nez coule' is the phrase to remember. Avoid trying to use it for 'pouring' a drink yet, as that will lead to mistakes. Stick to the natural flow of things.

At the A2 level, you expand your use of 'couler' to include the concept of 'sinking.' You should be able to describe a boat sinking in a simple past tense: 'Le bateau a coulé.' Notice that we use 'avoir' as the helping verb. This is also the level where you start using the causative form 'faire couler.' You might say 'Je fais couler un bain' (I am running a bath). This is a very common and useful phrase. You will also encounter 'couler' in the context of makeup, like mascara running when someone cries. You are moving from just observing water in nature to describing actions you take with water and simple events in the world. You should also be aware of the word in the context of time, although very simply, like 'le temps coule vite' (time flows fast), though 'passe' is more common. Your vocabulary is growing, and you can now use 'couler' to describe a wider range of physical states. You should also start to distinguish between 'couler' (natural flow) and 'verser' (pouring a drink), as this is a common point of confusion for beginners. Practice using it in the passé composé and the futur proche to describe things that happened or will happen, like a ship sinking or water flowing after a storm.

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the literal meanings and start exploring some common idiomatic expressions. You will encounter 'couler de source,' which means something is logical or 'goes without saying.' For example, 'C'est une solution qui coule de source' (It's a solution that is perfectly natural/logical). You should also be able to use 'couler' in a professional or academic context to describe a company or a project that is failing: 'Si nous ne changeons pas de stratégie, l'entreprise va couler.' This figurative use of 'sinking' is very common in adult conversation. You should also understand the difference between 'couler' and its reflexive form 's'écouler.' While 'couler' is the general verb, 's'écouler' is often preferred for the steady passage of time or the draining of a liquid. At B1, you are expected to handle more complex tenses, such as the imparfait and the conditionnel. For instance, 'Si la digue rompait, l'eau coulerait partout.' You are also starting to see 'couler' in literature, where it might describe the 'flow' of a poem or the 'sinking' of a character into despair, although 'sombrer' is more common for the latter. Your understanding is becoming more nuanced, allowing you to use the word in both concrete and abstract ways.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'couler' with more precision and to understand its more sophisticated idiomatic uses. One key expression at this level is 'faire couler beaucoup d'encre,' which is used to describe a topic that generates a lot of media coverage or debate. You should be able to use this in an essay or a formal discussion about current events. You also learn 'couler des jours heureux,' a poetic way to say someone is living a happy, peaceful life. At B2, you should also be aware of the technical uses of the word, such as 'couler du béton' (pouring concrete) or 'couler un métal' (casting metal). Your ability to distinguish between 'couler,' 'sombrer,' and 's'enfoncer' should be well-developed. You understand that 'couler' is the most general, 'sombrer' is more dramatic and often figurative (sinking into madness), and 's'enfoncer' is the physical act of sinking into a soft substance like mud. You can also use 'couler' in the context of a 'café coulé.' Your command of the language allows you to use the verb in various registers, from casual talk about a running nose to formal writing about a sinking economy or a controversial law that makes 'ink flow.'

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the nuances and stylistic effects of 'couler.' You can appreciate its use in classical French literature and poetry, such as in the works of Apollinaire or Baudelaire, where the flow of water is a profound metaphor for time, memory, and the human condition. You are comfortable with the reflexive 'se couler,' meaning to slip or glide into a place or a state, often with a sense of ease or stealth. You understand the subtle difference between 'l'eau qui coule' and 'l'eau qui ruisselle,' choosing the latter to create a more vivid, sensory description. In professional settings, you might use 'couler' to describe the 'casting' of a new policy or the 'sinking' of a competitor's reputation with sophisticated irony. You are also aware of regional variations or older uses that might appear in historical texts. Your use of the verb is not just grammatically correct but also stylistically appropriate for the context. You can discuss the 'flow' of a narrative or the 'sinking' of a political movement with ease. You also understand the nuances of 'laisser couler' in a philosophical sense—the art of letting things happen without trying to control them. At this level, 'couler' is a tool for nuanced expression, allowing you to convey subtle shifts in tone and meaning.

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native mastery of 'couler' and all its related forms. You can use it in highly technical, philosophical, or extremely literary contexts. You might analyze the 'fluidity' of a philosophical argument or the 'sinking' of an entire civilization in a historical treatise. You are familiar with rare or archaic uses of the word and can use them for specific stylistic effects. You understand the etymological roots (from the Latin 'colare,' meaning to strain or filter) and how that history informs the modern meanings of 'filtering' (as in 'café coulé') and 'flowing.' You can effortlessly switch between the literal, the figurative, and the idiomatic, using the verb to create complex puns or metaphors. Your understanding of 'couler' is integrated into a vast web of linguistic and cultural knowledge. You can discuss the 'flow' of history, the 'casting' of social norms, and the 'sinking' of existential hopes with the same verb, choosing the right tense, register, and collocation every time. You are also sensitive to the rhythm and sound of the word in prose and poetry, using its liquid 'l' and 'ou' sounds to enhance the musicality of your speech or writing. At C2, 'couler' is no longer just a word; it is a versatile instrument in your linguistic orchestra.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

couler in 30 Seconds

Couler primarily means 'to flow' for liquids like water, wine, or blood.
It also means 'to sink' for boats or objects in a body of water.
It can be used for a running nose or running makeup.
Figuratively, it means to fail (a company) or to be logical (couler de source).

The French verb couler is a versatile and essential word that every French learner must master. At its most fundamental level, it describes the movement of a fluid. Imagine water moving through a riverbed, or a leaky faucet dripping steadily into a sink; in these instances, the French speaker would use the word couler. However, its utility extends far beyond simple hydraulics. It is one of those rare verbs that manages to describe both horizontal movement (like a stream) and vertical movement (like a sinking ship). This duality makes it particularly interesting for English speakers, who might use different verbs like 'flow,' 'run,' 'leak,' or 'sink' depending on the context.

The Fluid Motion: When we talk about liquids, couler is the primary choice. It describes the natural, continuous movement of water, wine, or even blood. If you are in a kitchen and you turn on the tap, the water starts to couler. If you are hiking and find a beautiful stream, you are watching the water couler over the rocks.

Regarde l'eau qui coule de la montagne.

Beyond the physical world of liquids, the word takes on a more dramatic tone when applied to maritime contexts. In English, we distinguish between a liquid flowing and a vessel sinking. In French, couler handles both. If a boat hits an iceberg and disappears beneath the waves, it is said to couler. This can be used literally for a shipwreck or figuratively for a project, a business, or a reputation that is failing miserably.

The Downward Descent: When an object loses its buoyancy and descends to the bottom of a body of water, it is 'couler'. This is an intransitive use, meaning the boat sinks by itself. However, it can also be transitive: 'faire couler' means to cause something to sink, like a torpedo sinking a ship.

In daily conversation, you will hear it in the kitchen ('Laisse couler l'eau chaude'), in the bathroom ('Le mascara a coulé'), and in the news ('Le navire a coulé au large de Marseille'). It is a word that connects the mundane reality of a dripping tap to the epic tragedy of a sinking ocean liner. Its broad range of meanings makes it a high-frequency verb that appears in literature, journalism, and casual banter alike. Understanding the nuances of couler allows a learner to describe a wide variety of physical phenomena with a single, elegant French verb. Whether it is the passage of time ('le temps coule') or the literal casting of metal in a foundry ('couler du bronze'), the core concept remains the same: a continuous, often downward or forward, movement of substance or state. This section has explored the primary definitions, but as we delve deeper, you will see how this verb forms the backbone of many idiomatic expressions that French people use every day to describe logic, failure, and the inevitable passage of life itself.

Using couler correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical flexibility. It can function as an intransitive verb (it doesn't need an object) or a transitive verb (it takes an object), though the intransitive use is far more common in everyday speech. When used intransitively, the subject is the thing that is flowing or sinking. For example, 'La rivière coule' (The river flows). Here, the river is performing the action of flowing.

Le Titanic a coulé en 1912 après avoir heurté un iceberg.

In this sentence, couler is used in the passé composé. Note that it uses the auxiliary verb avoir, even though it describes a change of state or motion, which sometimes confuses learners who expect être.

Transitive Usage: To Cast or To Sink Something: When you use couler with a direct object, it often means to pour or cast something, like concrete or metal. 'Les ouvriers coulent le béton' (The workers are pouring the concrete). It can also mean to sink something intentionally: 'Ils ont coulé le vieux bateau pour créer un récif artificiel.'

Another important grammatical construction is 'faire couler.' This causative construction is used when you want to say you are making something flow. A very common example is 'faire couler un bain' (to run a bath). You aren't flowing yourself; you are causing the water to flow into the tub. When discussing emotions or physical sensations, you might say 'Les larmes ont coulé sur ses joues' (Tears flowed down her cheeks). This highlights the verb's ability to convey movement driven by gravity. In a more figurative sense, you can 'couler des jours heureux' (to lead/spend happy days). This is a fixed expression where the life or time is 'flowing' in a pleasant manner.

Elle a passé son après-midi à regarder la pluie couler le long des vitres.

Negative and Interrogative Forms: In the negative, it follows standard rules: 'L'eau ne coule pas.' In questions: 'Pourquoi le bateau a-t-il coulé ?' Pay attention to the auxiliary 'avoir' in compound tenses, as using 'être' is a common mistake for English speakers who associate sinking with a change of position like 'aller' or 'venir'.

Finally, consider the reflexive form se couler, which is rarer but means to slip or glide into something, like 'se couler dans un lit chaud' (to slip into a warm bed). This emphasizes the smooth, fluid-like motion of the person. By mastering these different sentence patterns, from the simple flow of a river to the causative running of a bath, you gain a powerful tool for describing the physical and metaphorical world in French.

You will encounter couler in a vast array of real-life situations, ranging from the most mundane household tasks to high-stakes news reporting. In a typical French home, the word is ubiquitous in the kitchen and bathroom. If someone leaves the tap running, you will hear, 'Tu as laissé couler l'eau !' (You left the water running!). If a child has a cold, a parent will inevitably say, 'Ton nez coule, prends un mouchoir' (Your nose is running, take a tissue). These are the A1 and A2 level interactions where the word is first solidified in a learner's mind.

In the Media and News: On French news channels like BFMTV or in newspapers like Le Monde, couler often appears in more serious contexts. It is the standard verb for maritime disasters. 'Un pétrolier a coulé au large de la Bretagne' (An oil tanker sank off the coast of Brittany). However, journalists also love using it metaphorically. You might read about a political scandal that 'fait couler beaucoup d'encre' (causes much ink to flow/causes a lot of media coverage).

Cette décision politique va faire couler beaucoup d'encre dans les jours à venir.

In the workplace, particularly in business or finance, the word takes on a more negative, 'sinking' connotation. If a company is performing poorly and is on the verge of bankruptcy, a colleague might whisper, 'La boîte est en train de couler' (The company is sinking/going under). Similarly, if someone fails a difficult exam or a project, they might say, 'Ça m'a coulé' (It ruined me / It sank me). In the world of construction and DIY, you'll hear it regarding materials. 'On va couler la dalle de béton demain' (We are going to pour the concrete slab tomorrow). This is a technical but very common use. In sports, especially swimming or sailing, the word is literal. A commentator might talk about a swimmer's stroke being fluid, or a boat that had to retire because it was taking on water and risked 'couler.'

The Romantic and Literary Context: In French literature and song, couler is often used to describe the passage of time or the flow of emotions. Think of the famous poem 'Le Pont Mirabeau' by Guillaume Apollinaire: 'Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine.' Here, the flowing of the river is a metaphor for the passing of time and lost love. It evokes a sense of nostalgia and inevitability.

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure, les jours s'en vont je demeure, sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine.

Whether you are watching a dramatic movie about a shipwreck, listening to a melancholic song about the passage of years, or simply asking someone to turn off the faucet, couler is the word that connects these experiences. It is deeply embedded in the sensory and metaphorical landscape of the French language.

For English speakers, the primary difficulty with couler lies in its broad range of meanings that are covered by several different English verbs. One of the most frequent errors is using 'tomber' (to fall) when 'couler' is required. For example, if your nose is running, you cannot say 'mon nez tombe.' That would mean your nose is literally falling off your face! You must use 'mon nez coule.' Similarly, when water is coming out of a tap, it is 'flowing' (coule), not 'falling' (tombe), unless you are specifically talking about a waterfall.

The 'Sinking' Confusion: English speakers often confuse 'couler' with 'sombrer.' While both can mean to sink, 'sombrer' is more formal and often used for larger vessels or in literary contexts. However, the biggest mistake is using 'être' as the auxiliary in the passé composé. Because sinking involves movement or a change of state, students often say 'Le bateau est coulé.' While 'il est coulé' can be used as an adjective (it is currently in a sunken state), the action of sinking must use 'avoir': 'Le bateau a coulé.'

Incorrect: Le navire est coulé hier soir.
Correct: Le navire a coulé hier soir.

Another common error occurs when trying to say 'to pour.' While couler can mean to pour concrete or metal, it is NOT used for pouring a drink into a glass. For that, you must use 'verser.' If you say 'Je coule du vin,' it sounds like you are either manufacturing wine in a factory or that the wine is leaking out of a hole in the bottle. To serve wine, always use 'verser du vin.'

Figurative Missteps: Learners sometimes misuse the expression 'laisser couler.' In English, we might say 'let it go' or 'let it slide.' In French, 'laisser couler' is perfect for this, but don't confuse it with 'laisser tomber,' which means 'to drop it' or 'to give up.' While they are similar, 'laisser couler' implies letting things take their natural course without intervening, much like water flowing under a bridge.

Lastly, be careful with 'faire couler.' Some learners forget the 'faire' when they want to say 'run a bath.' If you say 'Je coule un bain,' it’s understandable but slightly awkward; 'Je fais couler un bain' is the standard idiomatic way to express that you are the one turning on the taps. Avoiding these pitfalls—especially the avoir/être distinction and the couler/verser/tomber confusion—will make your French sound much more natural and precise.

To truly enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that occupy the same semantic space as couler. Depending on the context, you might want to be more specific. For example, if you are talking about water flowing slowly or in a small amount, you might use 'dégouliner' (to trickle or drip down). This is often used for sweat or melting ice cream. If the flow is very strong, like a flood or a heavy rain, 'ruisseler' (to stream/flow in torrents) is a more descriptive choice.

Couler vs. S'écouler: S'écouler is a very close relative. It is often used for the passage of time or the flow of a large quantity of liquid over a period. While 'le temps coule' is poetic, 'le temps s'écoule' is the more standard way to say 'time passes.' It suggests a steady, irreversible progression. In a physical sense, 'l'eau s'écoule' might describe how water drains out of a basin.

Plusieurs mois se sont écoulés avant qu'il ne reçoive une réponse.

When the meaning is 'to sink,' the main alternative is 'sombrer.' As mentioned before, 'sombrer' is more dramatic and often used for ships in a storm. It also has strong figurative uses: 'sombrer dans la folie' (to sink into madness) or 'sombrer dans l'oubli' (to sink into oblivion). Couler is more versatile, but sombrer carries more emotional or literary weight. Another synonym for sinking in a more literal, physical sense (like a stone in a pond) is 's'enfoncer' (to sink in/to push in).

Couler vs. Fuir: If a container is leaking, you have two options. You can say 'le robinet coule' (the tap is running/dripping) or 'le tuyau fuit' (the pipe is leaking). Fuir specifically implies an escape of liquid where it shouldn't be, whereas couler just describes the movement itself. If your roof is leaking during a storm, you say 'le toit fuit,' but you would describe the water as 'l'eau coule sur les murs.'

In summary, while couler is the 'jack-of-all-trades' for flowing and sinking, using 'ruisseler' for streams, 'dégouliner' for drips, 's'écouler' for time, 'sombrer' for tragic sinking, and 'verser' for pouring will make your French significantly more sophisticated and precise. Each of these words adds a layer of detail that couler alone might lack, allowing you to paint a clearer picture for your listener or reader.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word 'couloir' (hallway) comes from 'couler' because it is a place where people 'flow' through a building.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ku.le/

US /ku.le/

The stress is on the final syllable (le).

Rhymes With

rouler mouler prouver (partial) bouler fouler soûler dérouler écrouler

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'r' at the end (it is silent).
Making the 'ou' sound like the 'ow' in 'cow'.
Pronouncing it like 'couleur' (color), which has a different ending sound.
Nasalizing the 'ou' (it is not a nasal sound).
Making the 'e' too open (like 'è').

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in context.

Writing 3/5

Must remember to use 'avoir' in past tense.

Speaking 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but don't say the 'r'.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, but don't confuse with 'couleur'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

eau bateau aller faire rivière

Learn Next

sombrer s'écouler verser fuir ruisseler

Advanced

métallurgie ontologie confluence découler fluidité

Grammar to Know

Causative with 'faire'

Je fais couler l'eau.

Passé composé with 'avoir' for intransitive motion

Le bateau a coulé.

Infinitive after 'laisser'

Laisse couler.

Present participle as adjective

Une eau coulante.

Reflexive for metaphorical movement

Il se coule dans le lit.

Examples by Level

L'eau coule du robinet.

The water flows from the tap.

Present tense, third person singular.

La rivière coule lentement.

The river flows slowly.

Simple subject + verb + adverb structure.

Mon nez coule parce que j'ai un rhume.

My nose is running because I have a cold.

Common idiomatic use for physical symptoms.

Regarde la pluie qui coule sur la vitre.

Look at the rain flowing on the window pane.

Relative clause with 'qui'.

Le café coule dans la tasse.

The coffee flows into the cup.

Describing a common kitchen action.

Les larmes coulent sur son visage.

Tears are flowing down her face.

Plural subject with 'coulent'.

La fontaine coule toute la journée.

The fountain flows all day long.

Expressing duration with 'toute la journée'.

Le chocolat chaud coule sur le gâteau.

The hot chocolate flows over the cake.

Describing the movement of a viscous liquid.

Le petit bateau en papier a coulé dans la mare.

The small paper boat sank in the pond.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Je vais faire couler un bain chaud.

I am going to run a hot bath.

Causative construction 'faire couler'.

Le mascara a coulé sous ses yeux.

The mascara ran under her eyes.

Specific use for makeup/cosmetics.

Le Titanic a coulé après avoir heurté un iceberg.

The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg.

Historical reference in the past tense.

Attention, la glace coule sur tes doigts !

Watch out, the ice cream is dripping on your fingers!

Imperative 'attention' + present tense.

Elle a laissé couler l'eau trop longtemps.

She let the water run for too long.

Verb 'laisser' + infinitive 'couler'.

Le sang a coulé de sa petite blessure.

Blood flowed from his small wound.

Describing a minor injury.

Le sable coule dans le sablier.

The sand flows in the hourglass.

Describing the movement of granular solids like liquids.

C'est une évidence, cela coule de source.

It's obvious, it goes without saying.

Idiomatic expression 'couler de source'.

Si on ne fait rien, ce projet va couler.

If we do nothing, this project is going to sink/fail.

Figurative use for failure.

Il aime regarder le temps qui coule sans rien faire.

He likes to watch time pass without doing anything.

Metaphorical use for time.

L'entreprise a coulé à cause de la crise économique.

The company went under because of the economic crisis.

Business context for 'couler'.

Il faut laisser couler les critiques sans s'énerver.

One must let the criticism slide without getting upset.

Idiom 'laisser couler' (to let it slide).

Les jours s'écoulent paisiblement dans ce village.

The days pass peacefully in this village.

Using the reflexive 's'écouler' for time.

L'eau s'est écoulée par le petit trou dans le seau.

The water drained out through the small hole in the bucket.

Reflexive 's'écouler' for draining.

Elle a coulé un regard noir à son adversaire.

She cast a dark glance at her opponent.

Literary use: 'couler un regard' (to cast a glance).

Cette affaire va faire couler beaucoup d'encre dans les journaux.

This affair is going to cause a lot of ink to flow in the newspapers.

Common journalistic idiom.

Ils ont décidé de couler une dalle en béton pour la terrasse.

They decided to pour a concrete slab for the terrace.

Technical use: 'couler du béton'.

Après sa retraite, il a coulé des jours heureux en Provence.

After his retirement, he lived happy days in Provence.

Fixed expression 'couler des jours heureux'.

Le navire de guerre a été coulé par une torpille.

The warship was sunk by a torpedo.

Passive voice 'a été coulé'.

L'or en fusion est coulé dans des moules.

The molten gold is poured into molds.

Technical/Industrial context.

Sa trahison a fini par couler sa carrière politique.

His betrayal ended up sinking his political career.

Figurative use: sinking a career.

Le style de cet auteur est fluide, les mots coulent naturellement.

This author's style is fluid; the words flow naturally.

Metaphorical use for writing/speech.

Il a laissé couler le robinet pour éviter que les tuyaux ne gèlent.

He let the tap drip to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Practical usage in cold weather.

Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine et nos amours.

Under the Mirabeau Bridge flows the Seine and our loves.

Literary quote (Apollinaire).

Il s'est coulé dans la foule pour ne pas être remarqué.

He slipped into the crowd so as not to be noticed.

Reflexive 'se couler' (to slip into).

Le silence se coula dans la pièce comme un brouillard.

Silence slipped into the room like a fog.

Poetic/Literary personification.

La lumière du matin coulait à travers les persiennes.

The morning light flowed through the shutters.

Describing light as a fluid.

Elle a su couler ses idées dans un moule classique.

She knew how to fit her ideas into a classical mold.

Abstract use: 'couler dans un moule'.

L'intrigue coule de source à partir du deuxième acte.

The plot follows logically from the second act onwards.

Applying 'couler de source' to narrative logic.

Il a coulé un bronze magnifique pour le jardin public.

He cast a magnificent bronze for the public garden.

Artistic use: casting a sculpture.

Le venin coule dans ses veines chaque fois qu'il le voit.

Venom flows in his veins every time he sees him.

Metaphorical use for intense emotion.

L'ontologie de Deleuze fait couler la pensée hors des cadres établis.

Deleuze's ontology makes thought flow outside of established frameworks.

Highly academic/philosophical context.

Le temps, ce fleuve qui coule sans trêve vers l'oubli.

Time, that river that flows without cease toward oblivion.

Existential/Poetic metaphor.

Il s'est coulé dans le moule de la haute bourgeoisie avec une aisance déconcertante.

He slipped into the mold of the high bourgeoisie with disconcerting ease.

Social/Sociological metaphor.

La prose de Proust coule selon un rythme qui imite la mémoire.

Proust's prose flows according to a rhythm that mimics memory.

Literary analysis.

Laisser couler le flux de la conscience est une technique de méditation.

Letting the flow of consciousness pass is a meditation technique.

Psychological/Philosophical context.

Le métal en fusion, une fois coulé, prend la forme de son destin.

The molten metal, once cast, takes the form of its destiny.

Metaphorical/Technical blend.

Chaque mot semblait couler d'une blessure ancienne.

Every word seemed to flow from an ancient wound.

Deeply emotional/literary metaphor.

L'histoire coule imperturbablement, broyant les empires sur son passage.

History flows imperturbably, crushing empires in its path.

Grand historical metaphor.

Common Collocations

faire couler un bain

laisser couler l'eau

le nez qui coule

couler du béton

couler à flots

faire couler de l'encre

couler de source

couler des jours heureux

couler un regard

couler un navire

Common Phrases

Laisse couler !

— Let it go / Don't worry about it.

Il t'a insulté ? Laisse couler, il n'en vaut pas la peine.

Ça coule de source.

— It's obvious / It's perfectly natural.

Pourquoi a-t-il aidé son frère ? Ça coule de source !

Couler à pic

— To sink like a stone / To sink very fast.

Le bateau a été touché et il a coulé à pic.

Faire couler le sang

— To cause bloodshed.

Cette guerre a fait couler beaucoup de sang.

Couler un bronze

— To cast a bronze (art) or (slang) to take a poo.

L'artiste a coulé un bronze pour la place du village.

Laisser couler le temps

— To let time pass without acting.

Il préfère laisser couler le temps avant de décider.

Couler une bielle

— To throw a rod (engine failure).

Ma voiture est en panne, j'ai coulé une bielle.

Couler quelqu'un

— To ruin someone / To sink someone's reputation.

Ses révélations ont fini par couler le ministre.

Couler un café

— To brew/pour a coffee.

Je vais nous couler un petit café.

Couler doucement

— To flow gently.

La rivière coule doucement sous les arbres.

Often Confused With

couler vs couleur

Means 'color'. Pronounced differently at the end.

couler vs verser

Means 'to pour' (a drink). 'Couler' is for natural flow.

couler vs tomber

Means 'to fall'. A nose 'flows' (coule), it doesn't 'fall' (tombe).

Idioms & Expressions

"Faire couler beaucoup d'encre"

— To be much written about / To cause a stir in the media.

La nouvelle loi a fait couler beaucoup d'encre.

neutral/journalistic

"Couler de source"

— To be self-evident or logical.

Pour lui, devenir médecin coulait de source.

neutral

"Laisser couler"

— To ignore something or let it pass without reacting.

Ne réponds pas à ses provocations, laisse couler.

informal

"Couler des jours heureux"

— To live a peaceful and happy life.

Ils coulent des jours heureux dans leur petite maison.

literary

"Couler à pic"

— To sink vertically and rapidly.

L'ancre a coulé à pic.

neutral

"Faire couler le sang"

— To cause a violent conflict.

Ils voulaient la paix sans faire couler le sang.

formal

"Couler un regard"

— To cast a quick, often secret glance.

Elle a coulé un regard vers la porte.

literary

"Couler quelqu'un"

— To cause someone's failure or downfall.

Ce témoignage va le couler.

neutral

"Se couler dans un moule"

— To conform to a certain pattern or expectation.

Il a du mal à se couler dans le moule de l'entreprise.

neutral

"L'eau a coulé sous les ponts"

— A lot of time has passed (water under the bridge).

Depuis notre dispute, beaucoup d'eau a coulé sous les ponts.

neutral

Easily Confused

couler vs sombrer

Both mean to sink.

Sombrer is more formal/literary and often implies a total or tragic loss.

Le Titanic a sombré.

couler vs s'écouler

Very similar meaning.

S'écouler is preferred for the passage of time or draining of liquids.

Les heures s'écoulent.

couler vs fuir

Both involve liquid moving.

Fuir implies a leak or escaping where it shouldn't.

Le tuyau fuit.

couler vs ruisseler

Both mean flow.

Ruisseler implies a heavy or streaming flow, like sweat or rain on walls.

La pluie ruisselle.

couler vs dégouliner

Both mean flow.

Dégouliner is informal and implies dripping messily.

La peinture dégouline.

Sentence Patterns

L'eau coule.

Le [objet] a coulé.

Le bateau a coulé.

Faire couler [objet].

Faire couler un bain.

Cela coule de source.

[Abstrait] coule.

Le temps coule.

Faire couler de l'encre.

Cette loi fait couler de l'encre.

Se couler dans [moule/lieu].

Il se coule dans la foule.

[Sujet complexe] coule vers [destin].

L'histoire coule vers l'oubli.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High frequency in both spoken and written French.

Common Mistakes

Mon nez tombe. → Mon nez coule.
In English, a nose 'runs'. In French, it 'flows' (coule). 'Tombe' means it is falling off.
Le bateau est coulé. → Le bateau a coulé.
The action of sinking requires the auxiliary 'avoir', not 'être'.
Je coule du vin dans mon verre. → Je verse du vin dans mon verre.
Use 'verser' for pouring drinks. 'Couler' is for natural flow or manufacturing.
L'eau s'est coulé. → L'eau a coulé.
Unless using the specific reflexive 's'écouler' (which requires être), the plain verb 'couler' uses 'avoir'.
Faire couler beaucoup de l'encre. → Faire couler beaucoup d'encre.
The idiom does not use the article 'de l''. It is 'beaucoup d'encre'.

Tips

Auxiliary Verb

Always use 'avoir' with 'couler' in the past tense. 'Le bateau a coulé' is correct; 'Le bateau est coulé' is not used for the action.

Couler vs Verser

Use 'couler' for natural or continuous flow (rivers, taps). Use 'verser' for pouring a specific amount into a container (wine, water into a glass).

Logical Flow

'Couler de source' is a great way to say something is obvious or natural. It's very common in professional and casual French.

Silent R

In the infinitive 'couler', the 'r' is silent. It sounds exactly like 'coulé' (the past participle).

Construction

If you are talking about building, 'couler' is the verb for pouring concrete slabs or foundations.

Colds

When you have a cold, remember 'le nez qui coule'. It's one of the first things a French doctor or pharmacist will ask.

Sinking Business

Use 'couler' to describe a business failing. 'La boîte coule' is a common way to say a company is going bankrupt.

Poetry

Look for 'couler' in French poetry. It's often used to link the flow of water with the flow of time and human emotions.

Beauty

If someone's makeup is ruined by rain or tears, use 'couler'. 'Ton mascara a coulé.'

Let it go

Use 'laisser couler' to show you are relaxed and not bothered by small annoyances.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Cooler' (box for drinks). If you leave the ice in the cooler too long, it melts and water starts to 'couler' (flow) out.

Visual Association

Imagine a boat sinking into a giant cup of coffee. The coffee 'coule' (flows) into the boat, and the boat 'coule' (sinks).

Word Web

eau rivière bateau nez robinet temps béton encre

Challenge

Try to use 'couler' in three different ways today: once for water, once for your nose or makeup, and once figuratively for time or a project.

Word Origin

From the Latin verb 'colare', which means to filter, strain, or sieve.

Original meaning: The original sense was related to the purification of liquids through a filter.

Romance (Indo-European).

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'couler' for people; 'il a coulé' can mean someone failed or is ruined, which can be harsh.

English speakers often need two words ('flow' and 'sink') where French uses one ('couler').

Le Pont Mirabeau (poem by Apollinaire) The sinking of the Titanic (often discussed using 'couler') French news reports on 'marées noires' (oil spills)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

In the kitchen

Laisse couler l'eau.
Le robinet coule.
Fais couler le café.
L'eau coule partout !

At the beach

Le bateau a coulé.
Le sable coule.
Faire couler un château de sable.
L'eau coule sur le sable.

Health/Cold

J'ai le nez qui coule.
Tes larmes coulent.
Le sang coule.
Prends un mouchoir !

Office/Business

La boîte va couler.
Le projet a coulé.
Faire couler la concurrence.
Laisser couler l'affaire.

Construction

Couler une dalle.
Le béton coule.
Couler du plomb.
Moule pour couler.

Conversation Starters

"Est-ce que tu as déjà vu un bateau couler dans un film ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui te fait couler des larmes de joie ?"

"Penses-tu que ce projet va couler ou réussir ?"

"Est-ce que tu laisses couler quand quelqu'un est impoli ?"

"Préfères-tu le café coulé ou l'espresso ?"

Journal Prompts

Décris un moment où tu as décidé de 'laisser couler' une situation difficile.

Imagine que tu es un explorateur et que tu vois un navire couler au loin.

Écris sur le temps qui coule et comment tu te sens par rapport à ça.

Décris la sensation de l'eau qui coule sur ta peau pendant une douche chaude.

Invente une histoire sur une entreprise qui est sur le point de couler.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in the passé composé, 'couler' always uses the auxiliary 'avoir' (e.g., Le bateau a coulé), even though it describes a change of state. Using 'être' is a common mistake for learners.

The correct idiomatic expression is 'faire couler un bain.' You use the verb 'faire' (to make) with 'couler' (to flow).

No, you should use 'verser' for pouring a drink into a glass. 'Couler' would imply the wine is flowing out of a leak or being manufactured.

It means 'to let it go' or 'to let it slide.' It's used when you decide not to react to a provocation or a problem.

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

Yes, metaphorically. 'Le temps coule' or 'les jours coulent' describes time passing smoothly like a river.

Both can mean 'to sink,' but 'sombrer' is more dramatic, formal, and often used for large ships or figurative 'sinking' into madness or debt.

You say 'Mon nez coule' or 'J'ai le nez qui coule.'

Yes, figuratively. 'L'entreprise a coulé' means the company went under or failed.

It is filtered coffee, where water has flowed through the grounds, as opposed to espresso.