batifoler
frolic
Definition & meaning
Batifoler is an informal French verb meaning to frolic, romp, or play about in a lighthearted way. It can also mean to flirt or engage in playful romantic behavior, usually without suggesting a serious commitment.
Grammar & word origin
- Verb: batifoler
- Conjugation: Regular -er verb; it is generally used intransitively: ils batifolent (“they frolic”).
- Origin: The word is recorded in French from around the 15th century. Its history is uncertain; it comes from the older playful-sounding word batifol , and its parts are not clearly analyzable in modern French.
Synonyms & antonyms
For frolicking, close synonyms include folâtrer , which also means to romp or play freely, and gambader , which more specifically suggests skipping or bounding about.
For flirtatious behavior, flirter is the more direct, modern equivalent. Badiner emphasizes playful joking or teasing and is not necessarily romantic.
There is no single exact antonym. Depending on the sense, contrasts include rester sérieux (“to remain serious”) or travailler (“to work”).
Common phrases & collocations
- Les enfants batifolent dans le jardin. — “The children are frolicking in the garden.”
- Des amoureux qui batifolent — “Lovers flirting or playfully courting.”
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Examples
Les enfants batifolent dans le jardin.verb
The children frolic in the garden.
Les chiots batifolent joyeusement dans la neige.verb
The puppies frolic joyfully in the snow.
Nous aimions batifoler dans les vagues.verb
We loved to frolic in the waves.
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