potasser
study
Definition & meaning
Potasser is a colloquial French verb meaning to study intensively, to work hard on a subject, or to cram.
It is commonly used for preparing an exam or working through difficult material:
- Je dois potasser mes examens. — “I have to cram for my exams.”
- Elle potasse son cours de droit. — “She is studying her law course intensively.”
- Il a potassé le dossier toute la soirée. — “He worked through the file all evening.”
It can also mean to study or prepare something thoroughly, not only academic material.
Grammar & Word origin
Potasser is a regular first-group verb ending in -er.
- Infinitive: potasser
- Present: je potasse
- Past participle: potassé [link](vocabuo://word/potassé]
- Auxiliary verb: avoir
It is usually transitive: potasser un cours , “to study a course intensively.” It can also be used without an object: Je vais potasser ce soir [link](vocabuo://word/potasser], “I’m going to study hard tonight.”
The verb comes from potasse , “potash.” Its development is associated with student and scientific slang, particularly the idea of working intensely over technical or academic material.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- étudier — the neutral, general word for “to study”; it does not necessarily imply intense effort.
- réviser — “to revise” or “review,” especially material already learned before an exam.
- bûcher — colloquial and often stronger than potasser, suggesting very hard work.
- travailler — “to work”; broader and less specifically related to studying.
- plancher sur — “to work intensively on” a subject or problem, often with the idea of concentrating on something difficult.
Antonyms
There is no exact single antonym. Depending on the context, possible opposites include:
- négliger — “to neglect,” meaning not to give the subject the necessary attention.
- se détendre — “to relax,” contrasting with the effort implied by potasser.
- sécher les cours — “to skip classes,” an opposite in the context of academic engagement.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Nous avons potassé ce dossier toute la semaine.verb
We studied this file all week.
Elle potassera ses notes pendant le trajet.verb
She will study her notes during the journey.
Potassez ce chapitre avant demain matin !verb
Study this chapter before tomorrow morning!
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