VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
verbverb

appareiller

set sail

Definition & meaning

Appareiller is a French verb with several meanings, depending on context:

  1. To equip or fit out something with the equipment it needs, especially a ship, aircraft, or person.
    Example: to equip a ship with its instruments.

  2. In nautical usage, to set sail or leave port.
    Example: The ship is setting sail.

  3. To fit someone with a device or prosthesis, such as a hearing aid.
    Example: to fit a patient with a hearing aid.

  4. In masonry, to cut, arrange, or lay stones so that they fit together in a planned pattern.

  5. Less commonly, to pair or mate, especially when speaking of birds.

Grammar & Word origin

Appareiller is a regular French -er verb. It can be transitive—taking an object, as in appareiller un navire ()—or intransitive when it means “to set sail.” Its past participle is appareillé.

It is formed from appareil () with the verb-forming suffix -er. The word is historically related to the idea of preparing or providing equipment.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms depend on the meaning:

  • Équiper () means “to equip” in a broad sense; appareiller often suggests fitting something with specific apparatus or devices.
  • Munir () means “to provide with” or “to furnish with,” and is less focused on specialized equipment.
  • Prendre la mer () means “to put out to sea”; it is a close nautical equivalent of appareiller, though it describes the departure more generally.
  • Quitter le port () means “to leave port” and emphasizes the location being left.

Possible antonyms are also context-dependent:

  • For equipping, déséquiper () means “to strip of equipment.”
  • For a ship’s departure, accoster () means “to come alongside” a quay or another vessel, while entrer au port () means “to enter port.”

Common phrases & collocations

  • appareiller un navire () — to equip a ship
  • le navire appareille () — the ship sets sail
  • appareiller un patient () — to fit a patient with a medical device
  • appareiller des pierres () — to shape or arrange stones for masonry

Make “appareiller” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Le bateau va appareiller demain matin.verb

The boat will set sail tomorrow morning.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play