Walking is something we do every day, whether it’s going to school, taking a stroll in the park, or moving around the house. If you’re learning French, knowing how to say “walk” can help you talk about everyday activities. French has several words for “walk,” depending on the situation and how you are walking.
In this article, you’ll learn how to say “walk” in French, explore different ways to describe walking, and find useful examples to practice. By the end, you’ll feel ready to talk about walks and walks of life in French with confidence.
Ways to Say “Walk” in French
In French, the word “walk” can be expressed in different ways depending on the context. Whether you’re talking about a stroll, a quick walk, or walking as part of a daily routine, there’s a specific word to use. Here are 25 ways to say “walk” in French with meanings and examples:
1. Marcher
Pronunciation: mar-shay
Meaning: To walk (general).
In a Sentence:
- Je vais marcher jusqu’au parc. (I’m going to walk to the park.)
- Nous aimons marcher le long de la plage. (We like to walk along the beach.)
2. Se promener
Pronunciation: suh proh-muh-nay
Meaning: To take a walk or stroll.
In a Sentence:
- Nous allons nous promener après le dîner. (We’re going for a walk after dinner.)
- Elle aime se promener dans le jardin. (She likes to take a walk in the garden.)
3. Aller à pied
Pronunciation: ah-lay ah pyeh
Meaning: To go on foot.
In a Sentence:
- Il va à pied à l’école chaque matin. (He walks to school every morning.)
- Allons-y à pied pour profiter du beau temps. (Let’s walk to enjoy the nice weather.)
4. Balader
Pronunciation: bah-lah-day
Meaning: To wander or stroll casually.
In a Sentence:
- Nous aimons balader dans le centre-ville. (We like to stroll around downtown.)
- Ils baladent souvent le chien le soir. (They often walk the dog in the evening.)
5. Flâner
Pronunciation: flah-nay
Meaning: To stroll leisurely.
In a Sentence:
- On aime flâner dans les rues de Paris. (We love strolling through the streets of Paris.)
- Il flânait dans le parc sans se presser. (He was strolling in the park without hurrying.)
6. Randonner
Pronunciation: rahn-doh-nay
Meaning: To hike or walk long distances.
In a Sentence:
- Nous allons randonner dans les montagnes ce week-end. (We’re going hiking in the mountains this weekend.)
- Ils aiment randonner dans la forêt. (They like hiking in the forest.)
7. Déambuler
Pronunciation: day-ahn-byu-lay
Meaning: To roam or wander.
In a Sentence:
- Il aime déambuler dans la vieille ville. (He likes wandering in the old town.)
- Les touristes déambulent dans le marché. (The tourists roam around the market.)
8. Se balader
Pronunciation: suh bah-lah-day
Meaning: To go for a walk or ride.
In a Sentence:
- On va se balader en forêt cet après-midi. (We’re going for a walk in the forest this afternoon.)
- Elle se balade souvent près du lac. (She often takes a walk near the lake.)
9. Pérégriner
Pronunciation: peh-ray-gree-nay
Meaning: To wander or travel around (literary).
In a Sentence:
- Il aime pérégriner à travers le monde. (He likes wandering around the world.)
- Nous avons pérégriné dans les montagnes. (We wandered through the mountains.)
10. Sillonner
Pronunciation: see-yoh-nay
Meaning: To travel or crisscross.
In a Sentence:
- Ils sillonnent la région à pied. (They crisscross the region on foot.)
- Elle aime sillonner les sentiers du parc. (She likes walking the park trails.)
11. Parcourir
Pronunciation: par-koor-eer
Meaning: To travel across or cover a distance.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons parcouru 10 kilomètres à pied aujourd’hui. (We walked 10 kilometers today.)
- Ils parcourent souvent les bois. (They often walk through the woods.)
12. Traîner
Pronunciation: tray-nay
Meaning: To hang around or walk aimlessly.
In a Sentence:
- Ils traînent souvent au centre commercial. (They often hang around the mall.)
- Il traînait dans le parc après l’école. (He was hanging around the park after school.)
13. Cavaler
Pronunciation: kah-vah-lay
Meaning: To run or rush around.
In a Sentence:
- Les enfants cavalent dans la cour. (The kids are running around the yard.)
- Elle cavale toujours entre ses rendez-vous. (She’s always rushing between appointments.)
14. Pister
Pronunciation: pees-tay
Meaning: To track or follow.
In a Sentence:
- Le chien piste l’odeur dans la forêt. (The dog tracks the scent in the forest.)
- Ils pistaient un animal sauvage. (They were tracking a wild animal.)
15. Démarcher
Pronunciation: day-mar-shay
Meaning: To walk for business or canvassing.
In a Sentence:
- Les vendeurs démarchent dans le quartier. (The salespeople are canvassing the neighborhood.)
- Il démarchait les entreprises pour vendre ses produits. (He was walking to businesses to sell his products.)
16. Errer
Pronunciation: eh-ray
Meaning: To wander aimlessly or stray.
In a Sentence:
- Il erre dans les rues sans destination. (He wanders the streets without a destination.)
- Les chats errent souvent la nuit. (Cats often wander at night.)
17. Trottiner
Pronunciation: troh-tee-nay
Meaning: To jog or walk briskly.
In a Sentence:
- Elle trottine chaque matin dans le parc. (She jogs every morning in the park.)
- Le chien trottinait joyeusement à ses côtés. (The dog trotted happily beside her.)
18. Se déplacer
Pronunciation: suh day-plah-say
Meaning: To move around or travel.
In a Sentence:
- Nous devons nous déplacer à pied en ville. (We need to move around on foot in the city.)
- Ils se déplacent souvent à pied dans leur quartier. (They often get around on foot in their neighborhood.)
19. Sortir
Pronunciation: sor-teer
Meaning: To go out or leave.
In a Sentence:
- Ils sortent pour une promenade chaque soir. (They go out for a walk every evening.)
- Je sors faire un tour au parc. (I’m going out for a walk in the park.)
20. Traverser
Pronunciation: trah-ver-say
Meaning: To cross or walk through.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons traversé la rue ensemble. (We crossed the street together.)
- Il traverse le parc tous les jours. (He walks through the park every day.)
21. Descendre
Pronunciation: day-sahn-druh
Meaning: To go down or descend.
In a Sentence:
- Ils descendent les escaliers à pied. (They walk down the stairs.)
- Nous descendons la colline ensemble. (We walk down the hill together.)
22. Monter
Pronunciation: mon-tay
Meaning: To go up or ascend.
In a Sentence:
- Nous montons à pied jusqu’à la montagne. (We walk up to the mountain.)
- Il monte l’escalier en courant. (He runs up the stairs.)
23. Escalader
Pronunciation: es-kah-lah-day
Meaning: To climb or scale.
In a Sentence:
- Ils escaladent la colline à pied. (They are climbing the hill on foot.)
- Nous avons escaladé les rochers. (We climbed the rocks.)
24. Se hâter
Pronunciation: suh ah-tay
Meaning: To hurry or rush.
In a Sentence:
- Ils se hâtent vers la sortie. (They hurry toward the exit.)
- Nous devons nous hâter pour ne pas être en retard. (We need to hurry so we’re not late.)
25. Patauger
Pronunciation: pah-toh-zhay
Meaning: To wade or walk through water or mud.
In a Sentence:
- Les enfants pataugent dans les flaques d’eau. (The kids are wading through puddles.)
- Nous avons pataugé dans la rivière peu profonde. (We waded through the shallow river.)
26. Gambader
Pronunciation: gahm-bah-day
Meaning: To frolic or skip happily.
In a Sentence:
- Les enfants gambadent joyeusement dans le champ. (The kids are skipping happily in the field.)
- Ils aiment gambader sur la plage. (They love frolicking on the beach.)
27. S’aventurer
Pronunciation: sah-ven-tyu-ray
Meaning: To venture or explore.
In a Sentence:
- Nous nous sommes aventurés dans la forêt. (We ventured into the forest.)
- Ils aiment s’aventurer dans les montagnes. (They like to venture into the mountains.)
28. Piétiner
Pronunciation: pyeh-tee-nay
Meaning: To stomp or trample.
In a Sentence:
- Les manifestants piétinaient devant le bâtiment. (The protesters were stomping in front of the building.)
- Les chevaux piétinaient le sol poussiéreux. (The horses were trampling the dusty ground.)
29. Rôder
Pronunciation: roh-day
Meaning: To prowl or roam suspiciously.
In a Sentence:
- Un chat rôdait autour de la maison. (A cat was prowling around the house.)
- Ils rôdaient dans les ruelles sombres. (They were prowling in the dark alleys.)
30. Emprunter
Pronunciation: ahn-prun-tay
Meaning: To take or follow a path.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons emprunté le sentier de randonnée. (We took the hiking trail.)
- Empruntons ce chemin pour arriver plus vite. (Let’s take this path to get there faster.)
31. Promener
Pronunciation: proh-muh-nay
Meaning: To walk something or someone.
In a Sentence:
- Elle promène son chien tous les matins. (She walks her dog every morning.)
- Nous promenons notre bébé dans la poussette. (We walk our baby in the stroller.)
32. Reculer
Pronunciation: ruh-kyu-lay
Meaning: To step back or retreat.
In a Sentence:
- Il a reculé quand il a vu le chien. (He stepped back when he saw the dog.)
- Reculons pour laisser passer la voiture. (Let’s step back to let the car pass.)
33. Faire un tour
Pronunciation: fehr uhn toor
Meaning: To take a walk or stroll.
In a Sentence:
- Nous allons faire un tour au parc. (We’re going for a walk in the park.)
- On peut faire un tour après le dîner. (We can take a walk after dinner.)
Other Ways to Say “Walk” in French
Here’s a table listing additional ways to say “walk” in French, along with their pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Faire une promenade | fehr uhn proh-meh-nad | Take a walk | Nous allons faire une promenade au parc. (We are going for a walk in the park.) |
| Partir à pied | par-teer ah pyeh | Leave on foot | Ils sont partis à pied pour l’école. (They left on foot for school.) |
| Déambuler | day-ahn-byu-lay | Wander aimlessly | Nous aimons déambuler dans les rues. (We like wandering in the streets.) |
| Faire une randonnée | fehr uhn rahn-doh-nay | Go for a hike | On va faire une randonnée en montagne. (We’re going hiking in the mountains.) |
| Se promener en ville | suh proh-muh-nay ahn veel | Stroll around the city | Elle se promène en ville le dimanche. (She strolls around the city on Sundays.) |
| Aller marcher | ah-lay mar-shay | Go for a walk | Veux-tu aller marcher avec moi? (Do you want to go for a walk with me?) |
| Faire du lèche-vitrine | fehr doo lesh-vee-treen | Window-shop | Elles font du lèche-vitrine dans le centre commercial. (They are window-shopping at the mall.) |
| Parcourir à pied | par-koor-eer ah pyeh | Cover a distance on foot | Ils ont parcouru 5 kilomètres à pied. (They covered 5 kilometers on foot.) |
| Prendre l’air | prahndr lehr | Get some fresh air | Allons prendre l’air au parc. (Let’s get some fresh air at the park.) |
| Flâner dans le quartier | flah-nay dahn luh kar-tyay | Stroll in the neighborhood | Nous aimons flâner dans le quartier le soir. (We like strolling in the neighborhood in the evening.) |
| Se déplacer à pied | suh day-plah-say ah pyeh | Move around on foot | Ils se déplacent souvent à pied en ville. (They often move around on foot in the city.) |
| Errer sans but | eh-ray sahn byuh | Wander without purpose | Il erre sans but dans la campagne. (He wanders aimlessly in the countryside.) |
| Prendre un chemin | prahndr uhn shuh-mahn | Take a path | Prenons ce chemin à pied. (Let’s take this path on foot.) |
| Descendre à pied | day-sahn-druh ah pyeh | Walk downhill | Ils descendent la colline à pied. (They walk down the hill.) |
| Monter à pied | mon-tay ah pyeh | Walk uphill | Nous montons à pied vers le sommet. (We walk uphill toward the summit.) |
| Faire du trekking | fehr doo trek-king | Go trekking | Ils font du trekking en montagne. (They are trekking in the mountains.) |
| S’aventurer dans la forêt | sah-ven-tyu-ray dahn lah fo-ray | Venture into the forest | Nous nous sommes aventurés dans la forêt. (We ventured into the forest.) |
| Faire le tour du quartier | fehr luh toor du kar-tyay | Take a tour around the neighborhood | Faisons le tour du quartier! (Let’s take a tour around the neighborhood!) |
Responses to “Walk” in French
When someone talks about walking or invites you for a walk in French, there are several polite or casual ways to respond. Here are common responses that fit different situations:
1. Oui, avec plaisir
Pronunciation: wee ah-vek pleh-zeer
Meaning: Yes, with pleasure.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On va se promener au parc? (Shall we go for a walk in the park?)
- Person 2: Oui, avec plaisir! (Yes, with pleasure!)
2. D’accord
Pronunciation: dah-kohr
Meaning: Okay.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Allons marcher un peu. (Let’s walk a bit.)
- Person 2: D’accord. (Okay.)
3. Pourquoi pas?
Pronunciation: poor-kwah pah
Meaning: Why not?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On pourrait aller marcher. (We could go for a walk.)
- Person 2: Pourquoi pas? (Why not?)
4. Volontiers
Pronunciation: voh-lawn-tyay
Meaning: Gladly.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Vous voulez faire une promenade? (Would you like to take a walk?)
- Person 2: Volontiers! (Gladly!)
5. Bonne idée!
Pronunciation: bonn ee-day
Meaning: Good idea!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Et si on faisait une promenade? (What if we went for a walk?)
- Person 2: Bonne idée! (Good idea!)
6. Je suis partant(e)
Pronunciation: juh swee par-tahnt
Meaning: I’m in.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On se promène après le déjeuner? (Shall we walk after lunch?)
- Person 2: Je suis partant! (I’m in!)
7. Avec plaisir
Pronunciation: ah-vek pleh-zeer
Meaning: With pleasure.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu viens te promener avec nous? (Are you coming for a walk with us?)
- Person 2: Avec plaisir! (With pleasure!)
8. Pas maintenant
Pronunciation: pah mahntenah
Meaning: Not now.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On va marcher? (Shall we walk?)
- Person 2: Pas maintenant, je suis occupé. (Not now, I’m busy.)
9. Désolé(e), je ne peux pas
Pronunciation: day-zoh-lay, juh nuh puh pah
Meaning: Sorry, I can’t.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On va se balader ce soir? (Shall we go for a walk tonight?)
- Person 2: Désolé(e), je ne peux pas. (Sorry, I can’t.)
10. Peut-être plus tard
Pronunciation: puh-teh-truh ploo tahr
Meaning: Maybe later.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux marcher maintenant? (Do you want to walk now?)
- Person 2: Peut-être plus tard. (Maybe later.)
11. Allons-y!
Pronunciation: ah-lohn-zee
Meaning: Let’s go!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On marche jusqu’au lac? (Shall we walk to the lake?)
- Person 2: Allons-y! (Let’s go!)
12. Pourquoi pas demain?
Pronunciation: poor-kwah pah duh-mahn
Meaning: Why not tomorrow?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Allons marcher aujourd’hui? (Shall we walk today?)
- Person 2: Pourquoi pas demain? (Why not tomorrow?)
13. Je suis fatigué(e)
Pronunciation: juh swee fah-tee-gay
Meaning: I’m tired.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Allons faire un tour au parc! (Let’s take a walk in the park!)
- Person 2: Je suis fatigué(e). (I’m tired.)
14. C’est une bonne idée
Pronunciation: say t-oon bonn ee-day
Meaning: That’s a good idea.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On pourrait se promener ce soir. (We could go for a walk tonight.)
- Person 2: C’est une bonne idée. (That’s a good idea.)
15. Je préfère rester ici
Pronunciation: juh pray-fair res-tay ee-see
Meaning: I’d rather stay here.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On va marcher? (Shall we walk?)
- Person 2: Je préfère rester ici. (I’d rather stay here.)
16. Pourquoi pas une autre fois?
Pronunciation: poor-kwah pah uhn oh-truh fwah
Meaning: Why not another time?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On va se balader ce matin? (Shall we take a walk this morning?)
- Person 2: Pourquoi pas une autre fois? (Why not another time?)
17. Je dois y réfléchir
Pronunciation: juh dwah ee ray-flay-sheer
Meaning: I have to think about it.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Veux-tu marcher jusqu’à la plage? (Do you want to walk to the beach?)
- Person 2: Je dois y réfléchir. (I have to think about it.)
18. C’est tentant
Pronunciation: say tahn-tahn
Meaning: That’s tempting.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On fait une promenade au parc? (Shall we take a walk in the park?)
- Person 2: C’est tentant. (That’s tempting.)
Exercise to Practice “Walk” in French
Fill in the blanks using the correct French terms related to “walk.” Each sentence is entirely in French, and meanings are provided afterward.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- Chaque matin, nous aimons _______ dans le parc. (to stroll)
- Pierre doit _______ à l’école parce qu’il a raté le bus. (to walk on foot)
- Marie et Paul vont _______ dans la forêt ce week-end. (to hike)
- Veux-tu _______ avec moi après le dîner? (to take a walk)
- Les enfants aiment _______ dans le jardin après l’école. (to wander)
- Nous allons _______ le chien dans le quartier. (to walk the dog)
- Il est fatigué après avoir _______ toute la journée. (to walk)
- On va _______ le long de la plage cet après-midi. (to stroll)
- Les randonneurs aiment _______ dans les montagnes. (to trek)
- Ils doivent _______ pour attraper le dernier train. (to hurry)
- Nous avons décidé de _______ au marché ce matin. (to go on foot)
- Elle préfère _______ tranquillement au bord du lac. (to stroll leisurely)
Answers:
- Se promener – Chaque matin, nous aimons nous promener dans le parc. (Every morning, we like to stroll in the park.)
- Aller à pied – Pierre doit aller à pied à l’école parce qu’il a raté le bus. (Pierre has to walk to school because he missed the bus.)
- Randonner – Marie et Paul vont randonner dans la forêt ce week-end. (Marie and Paul are going hiking in the forest this weekend.)
- Faire une promenade – Veux-tu faire une promenade avec moi après le dîner? (Do you want to take a walk with me after dinner?)
- Déambuler – Les enfants aiment déambuler dans le jardin après l’école. (The kids like to wander in the garden after school.)
- Promener – Nous allons promener le chien dans le quartier. (We’re going to walk the dog in the neighborhood.)
- Marcher – Il est fatigué après avoir marché toute la journée. (He’s tired after walking all day.)
- Se balader – On va se balader le long de la plage cet après-midi. (We’re going to stroll along the beach this afternoon.)
- Faire du trekking – Les randonneurs aiment faire du trekking dans les montagnes. (The hikers love trekking in the mountains.)
- Se hâter – Ils doivent se hâter pour attraper le dernier train. (They have to hurry to catch the last train.)
- Aller à pied – Nous avons décidé d’aller à pied au marché ce matin. (We decided to walk to the market this morning.)
- Flâner – Elle préfère flâner tranquillement au bord du lac. (She prefers strolling leisurely by the lake.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “walk” in French opens the door to describing everyday actions, outdoor adventures, and even casual strolls. With so many expressions available, you can be specific about the type of walking you are doing, whether it’s a relaxing promenade, an energetic hike, or a quick errand on foot.
By practicing these terms and responses, you’ll sound more natural when speaking French. Keep using these words in conversations, exercises, or even while describing your daily activities. With consistent practice, talking about “walking” in French will become as easy as taking a stroll!