verb

attraper

catch

Prendre quelque chose ou quelqu’un avec la main ou un objet pour qu’il ne s’échappe pas.

Word: attraper

Meaning:
The French verb "attraper" generally means "to catch," "to grab," or "to trap." It is commonly used in various contexts such as:

  1. To catch something physically:
    For example, catching a ball ("attraper une balle").

  2. To catch or contract an illness:
    For example, catching a cold ("attraper un rhume").

  3. To catch or trap someone:
    It can mean to catch a thief or someone in the act ("attraper un voleur").

  4. To catch (transportation):
    For example, to catch a train ("attraper le train").

Parts/Conjugation:

  • It is a regular -er verb.
  • Present tense example: je attrape, tu attrapes, il/elle attrape

Synonyms:

  • saisir (to seize)
  • capturer (to capture)
  • prendre (to take)
  • détecter (to detect, in the sense of catching an illness or an error)

Antonyms:

  • lâcher (to let go, to release)
  • rater (to miss, as in missing a catch)

Summary:
"Attraper" is a versatile French verb meaning to physically catch something, contract an illness, trap someone, or catch a form of transportation. It is primarily a physical or metaphorical 'catching.'

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Examples

Je vais attraper la balle.verb

I am going to catch the ball.

Tu peux attraper cet objet facilement.verb

You can catch this object easily.

Hier, nous avons attrapé un gros poisson au lac.verb

Yesterday, we caught a big fish at the lake.

Nous avons attrapé un poisson.verb

We caught a fish.

Le chat attrape une mouche dans la cuisine.verb

The cat catches a fly in the kitchen.

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