Learning how to say “run” in French can be both exciting and useful. Whether you’re studying French for school, travel, or just for fun, understanding a common verb like “run” is a great way to start. In French, verbs change depending on who is speaking and the situation. This might sound tricky, but it becomes easier with practice.
In this article, we will explore how to say “run” in French, different ways to express the idea of running, and even how to use phrases like “ripping and running” in French. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to talk about running in various contexts. Let’s get in!
Ways to Say “Run” in French
The verb “run” has several meanings in English, including physical running, managing something, or even functioning (like a machine). In French, these meanings translate into different words and phrases. Here are some of the most common ways to say “run” in French, along with their pronunciations and examples. Each word or phrase comes with its context so you can use them correctly.
1. Courir
Pronunciation: koo-reer
Meaning: To run (physically).
In a Sentence:
- Je vais courir au parc tous les matins. (I go running in the park every morning.)
- Les enfants adorent courir dans le jardin. (The kids love to run in the garden.)
2. Diriger
Pronunciation: dee-ree-zhay
Meaning: To run (manage or lead something).
In a Sentence:
- Il dirige une grande entreprise à Paris. (He runs a big company in Paris.)
- Elle aime diriger des projets créatifs. (She likes to run creative projects.)
3. Fonctionner
Pronunciation: fohnk-syoh-nay
Meaning: To run (as in operate or function).
In a Sentence:
- Ce moteur fonctionne très bien. (This engine runs very well.)
- L’ordinateur ne fonctionne pas correctement. (The computer is not running properly.)
4. Se précipiter
Pronunciation: suh pray-see-pee-tay
Meaning: To rush or run quickly.
In a Sentence:
- Ils se précipitent pour attraper le bus. (They are running to catch the bus.)
- Ne te précipite pas, prends ton temps. (Don’t rush, take your time.)
5. Faire un footing
Pronunciation: fehr uh foo-ting
Meaning: To go jogging.
In a Sentence:
- Nous faisons un footing chaque dimanche matin. (We go jogging every Sunday morning.)
- Elle a décidé de faire un footing pour rester en forme. (She decided to jog to stay fit.)
6. Dérouler
Pronunciation: day-roo-lay
Meaning: To run (as in to roll out or unfold).
In a Sentence:
- Le film se déroule sans problème. (The movie runs smoothly.)
- L’événement s’est déroulé comme prévu. (The event ran as planned.)
7. Poursuivre
Pronunciation: poor-swee-vruh
Meaning: To run after or chase.
In a Sentence:
- Le chien poursuit un chat dans la rue. (The dog is running after a cat on the street.)
- La police a poursuivi le voleur toute la nuit. (The police ran after the thief all night.)
8. Gérer
Pronunciation: zhay-ray
Meaning: To run (oversee or administer).
In a Sentence:
- Elle gère un petit café près de chez moi. (She runs a small café near my house.)
- Il apprend à gérer ses finances. (He is learning to run his finances.)
9. Participer à une course
Pronunciation: par-tee-see-pay ah uhn koors
Meaning: To run a race.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a participé à une course de 10 kilomètres. (She ran a 10-kilometer race.)
- J’aimerais participer à une course un jour. (I’d like to run a race one day.)
10. Couler
Pronunciation: koo-lay
Meaning: To run (as in liquid flowing).
In a Sentence:
- L’eau coule de la fontaine. (The water runs from the fountain.)
- Mon nez coule à cause du froid. (My nose is running because of the cold.)
11. Se dérouler
Pronunciation: suh day-roo-lay
Meaning: To take place or run smoothly.
In a Sentence:
- La réunion s’est déroulée sans problème. (The meeting ran smoothly.)
- La fête se déroule dans la grande salle. (The party is running in the big hall.)
12. Riper et courir
Pronunciation: ree-pay ay koo-reer
Meaning: To rip and run (slang for moving quickly or being busy).
In a Sentence:
- Elle doit riper et courir toute la journée pour son travail. (She has to rip and run all day for her job.)
- Nous avons ripé et couru pour préparer cette fête. (We ripped and ran to prepare this party.)
13. Allumer
Pronunciation: ah-loo-may
Meaning: To run (as in to start something, like an engine).
In a Sentence:
- Il allume la voiture pour partir. (He runs the car to leave.)
- Peux-tu allumer le chauffage ? (Can you run the heater?)
14. Traverser en courant
Pronunciation: tra-ver-say ahn koo-rahn
Meaning: To run across.
In a Sentence:
- Il a traversé la rue en courant. (He ran across the street.)
- Les enfants traversent le champ en courant. (The children run across the field.)
15. Être en marche
Pronunciation: eh-truh ahn marsh
Meaning: To be running (in operation).
In a Sentence:
- Le programme est en marche maintenant. (The program is running now.)
- La machine est en marche depuis ce matin. (The machine has been running since this morning.)
16. Mettre en marche
Pronunciation: meh-truh ahn marsh
Meaning: To start or run (something, like a machine or process).
In a Sentence:
- Ils ont mis en marche la nouvelle usine. (They started running the new factory.)
- Peux-tu mettre en marche la machine à laver ? (Can you start running the washing machine?)
17. Tourner
Pronunciation: toor-nay
Meaning: To run (as in to turn or operate, often for machines).
In a Sentence:
- La machine tourne sans problème. (The machine is running smoothly.)
- Le moteur tourne depuis une heure. (The engine has been running for an hour.)
18. Courir après
Pronunciation: koo-reer ah-pray
Meaning: To run after or pursue.
In a Sentence:
- Il court après ses rêves. (He runs after his dreams.)
- Elle court après son chien dans le parc. (She runs after her dog in the park.)
19. Se sauver
Pronunciation: suh soh-vay
Meaning: To run away or escape.
In a Sentence:
- Le voleur s’est sauvé avant l’arrivée de la police. (The thief ran away before the police arrived.)
- Les enfants se sauvent quand ils entendent un bruit. (The kids run away when they hear a noise.)
20. Organiser
Pronunciation: or-gah-nee-zay
Meaning: To run (as in organize or host).
In a Sentence:
- Ils organisent un festival chaque été. (They run a festival every summer.)
- Elle organise des événements pour les entreprises. (She runs events for businesses.)
21. Ramper
Pronunciation: rahn-pay
Meaning: To run (as in creep or crawl, often for water or small creatures).
In a Sentence:
- L’eau rampe doucement sur le sol. (The water runs slowly on the ground.)
- Une araignée rampe sur le mur. (A spider runs on the wall.)
22. Jouer
Pronunciation: zhoo-ay
Meaning: To run (as in play, for movies or performances).
In a Sentence:
- Ce film joue au cinéma ce soir. (This movie is running at the theater tonight.)
- La pièce de théâtre joue encore demain. (The play is running again tomorrow.)
23. Déborder
Pronunciation: day-bohr-day
Meaning: To run over or overflow.
In a Sentence:
- L’eau déborde du lavabo. (The water is running over from the sink.)
- Attention, la rivière déborde à cause de la pluie. (Be careful, the river is running over because of the rain.)
24. Écouler
Pronunciation: ay-koo-lay
Meaning: To run (as in to flow or pass, like time or liquid).
In a Sentence:
- L’eau s’écoule lentement dans les tuyaux. (The water runs slowly through the pipes.)
- Le temps s’écoule rapidement pendant les vacances. (Time runs quickly during the holidays.)
25. Être en tête
Pronunciation: eh-truh ahn tet
Meaning: To run (as in to be leading a race or competition).
In a Sentence:
- Elle est en tête de la course. (She is running in the lead of the race.)
- L’équipe est en tête du championnat. (The team is running at the top of the championship.)
26. Aller vite
Pronunciation: ah-lay veet
Meaning: To go fast or run quickly.
In a Sentence:
- Il va vite pour attraper son train. (He is running fast to catch his train.)
- Nous devons aller vite, sinon nous serons en retard. (We must run quickly, or we’ll be late.)
27. Fuir
Pronunciation: fweer
Meaning: To flee or run away.
In a Sentence:
- Ils fuient le danger immédiatement. (They run away from the danger immediately.)
- L’animal a fui dans la forêt. (The animal ran away into the forest.)
28. Courir en cercle
Pronunciation: koo-reer ahn ser-kluh
Meaning: To run in circles.
In a Sentence:
- Le chien court en cercle dans le jardin. (The dog is running in circles in the yard.)
- Les enfants courent en cercle pour s’amuser. (The children are running in circles for fun.)
29. Filmer
Pronunciation: feel-may
Meaning: To run (as in to shoot or film).
In a Sentence:
- Ils filment une scène dans la rue. (They are running a shoot on the street.)
- Le réalisateur filme depuis tôt ce matin. (The director has been running the shoot since early this morning.)
30. Gagner du terrain
Pronunciation: gah-nyay dew teh-rahn
Meaning: To gain ground or make progress (figurative running).
In a Sentence:
- Elle gagne du terrain dans sa carrière. (She is running ahead in her career.)
- Le candidat gagne du terrain dans les sondages. (The candidate is running ahead in the polls.)
31. Accélérer
Pronunciation: ahk-say-lay-ray
Meaning: To accelerate or run faster.
In a Sentence:
- La voiture accélère sur l’autoroute. (The car is running faster on the highway.)
- Il a accéléré pour terminer la course. (He ran faster to finish the race.)
Other Ways to Say “Run” in French
Below is a table with additional ways to express “run” in French. Each entry provides the phrase, pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences to help you understand the context of usage.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Faire la course | fehr lah koors | To race or compete in running | On va faire la course jusqu’à l’arbre. (We will race to the tree.) |
| Lancer un projet | lahn-say uhn proh-zhay | To run (start a project) | Ils ont lancé un projet écologique. (They started running an eco-friendly project.) |
| S’échapper | say-shah-pay | To escape or run away | Le prisonnier s’est échappé de sa cellule. (The prisoner ran away from his cell.) |
| Glisser | glee-say | To run smoothly or slide | La porte glisse sans bruit. (The door runs smoothly without a sound.) |
| Tenir une affaire | tuh-neer uhn ah-fehr | To run a business | Elle tient une affaire prospère. (She runs a successful business.) |
| Diriger une réunion | dee-ree-zhay uhn ray-oo-nee-ohn | To run a meeting | Le directeur dirige une réunion importante. (The director is running an important meeting.) |
| Être en activité | eh-truh ahn ack-tee-vee-tay | To be running (active) | La station-service est en activité. (The gas station is running/operating.) |
| Suivre un programme | swee-vruh uhn proh-grahm | To run (follow) a program | Elle suit un programme de remise en forme. (She is running a fitness program.) |
| Tourner en rond | toor-nay ahn rohng | To run in circles (figurative) | Il tourne en rond avec ce projet. (He is running in circles with this project.) |
| Faire tourner | fehr toor-nay | To run (operate something) | Elle fait tourner la boutique seule. (She runs the shop by herself.) |
| Être à court de | eh-truh ah koor duh | To run out of | Nous sommes à court de temps. (We are running out of time.) |
| Gérer les opérations | zhay-ray layz oh-pay-rah-syohn | To run operations | Elle gère les opérations dans l’entreprise. (She runs the operations in the company.) |
| Déployer | day-ploy-yay | To run (deploy or implement) | Ils ont déployé un nouveau logiciel. (They have run/deployed a new software.) |
| Être à la tête de | eh-truh ah lah tet duh | To be in charge of | Il est à la tête de l’équipe marketing. (He runs the marketing team.) |
| S’entraîner | sahn-trah-nay | To train or practice running | Je m’entraîne pour le marathon. (I am training to run a marathon.) |
Responses to “Run” in French
When talking about running in French, people might respond differently depending on the context. Whether you are talking about running as an activity, managing something, or a machine running, these responses help to carry on the conversation naturally. Below are some common responses with examples.
1. Oui, je cours régulièrement
Pronunciation: wee, juh koor ray-gyoo-layr-mon
Meaning: Yes, I run regularly.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Est-ce que tu cours tous les jours ? (Do you run every day?)
- Response: Oui, je cours régulièrement, surtout le matin. (Yes, I run regularly, especially in the mornings.)
2. Non, je ne cours pas
Pronunciation: nohn, juh nuh koor pah
Meaning: No, I don’t run.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Tu veux venir courir avec moi ? (Do you want to come running with me?)
- Response: Non, je ne cours pas, ce n’est pas mon truc. (No, I don’t run, it’s not my thing.)
3. Oui, tout fonctionne bien
Pronunciation: wee, too fohnk-syohn bee-ehn
Meaning: Yes, everything is running well.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Est-ce que la machine fonctionne ? (Is the machine running?)
- Response: Oui, tout fonctionne bien, merci. (Yes, everything is running well, thank you.)
4. Je gère cela tous les jours
Pronunciation: juh zhair suh-lah too lay zhoor
Meaning: I manage this every day.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Est-ce difficile de gérer un café ? (Is it hard to run a café?)
- Response: Non, pas vraiment, je gère cela tous les jours. (No, not really, I manage this every day.)
5. C’est un bon exercice
Pronunciation: say-tuh uhn boh-nehx-sair-sees
Meaning: It’s a good exercise.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Pourquoi cours-tu autant ? (Why do you run so much?)
- Response: Parce que c’est un bon exercice pour la santé. (Because it’s good exercise for health.)
6. Non, ça ne marche pas
Pronunciation: nohn, sah nuh marsh pah
Meaning: No, it’s not working/running.
In a Sentence:
- Question: La télévision fonctionne-t-elle ? (Is the television running?)
- Response: Non, ça ne marche pas, il faut la réparer. (No, it’s not running, it needs to be repaired.)
7. Oui, nous avons organisé cela récemment
Pronunciation: wee, noo-zah-vohn or-gah-nee-zay suh-lah ray-sah-mahn
Meaning: Yes, we organized this recently.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Qui a organisé cette course ? (Who ran this race?)
- Response: Oui, nous avons organisé cela récemment pour l’école. (Yes, we organized this recently for the school.)
8. Je n’ai pas le temps de courir
Pronunciation: juh nay pah luh tahn duh koo-reer
Meaning: I don’t have time to run.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Pourquoi ne cours-tu pas ? (Why don’t you run?)
- Response: Je n’ai pas le temps de courir avec mon emploi du temps chargé. (I don’t have time to run with my busy schedule.)
9. C’est mon passe-temps préféré
Pronunciation: say mohn pass-tahm pray-fay-ray
Meaning: It’s my favorite pastime.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Tu aimes courir ? (Do you like running?)
- Response: Oui, c’est mon passe-temps préféré, surtout les week-ends. (Yes, it’s my favorite pastime, especially on weekends.)
10. Oui, ça se déroule bien
Pronunciation: wee, sah suh day-roo-lay bee-ehn
Meaning: Yes, it’s running smoothly.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Comment se passe la réunion ? (How is the meeting running?)
- Response: Oui, ça se déroule bien jusqu’à maintenant. (Yes, it’s running smoothly so far.)
11. Je préfère marcher
Pronunciation: juh pray-fair mar-shay
Meaning: I prefer walking.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Tu vas courir ce soir ? (Are you going to run tonight?)
- Response: Non, je préfère marcher, c’est plus calme. (No, I prefer walking; it’s more relaxing.)
12. Tout est sous contrôle
Pronunciation: too tay soo kon-trohl
Meaning: Everything is under control.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Comment gères-tu l’entreprise ? (How are you running the business?)
- Response: Tout est sous contrôle, merci. (Everything is running smoothly, thank you.)
13. Oui, je me suis entraîné
Pronunciation: wee, juh muh swee sahn-tray-nay
Meaning: Yes, I trained.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Es-tu prêt pour la course ? (Are you ready for the race?)
- Response: Oui, je me suis entraîné pendant des semaines. (Yes, I’ve been training for weeks.)
14. Ça doit être réparé
Pronunciation: sah dwaht eh-truh ray-pah-ray
Meaning: It needs to be fixed.
In a Sentence:
- Question: La machine fonctionne-t-elle ? (Is the machine running?)
- Response: Non, ça doit être réparé avant de fonctionner. (No, it needs to be fixed before it can run.)
15. C’est bien organisé
Pronunciation: say bee-ehn or-gah-nee-zay
Meaning: It’s well organized.
In a Sentence:
- Question: Comment trouvez-vous cet événement ? (How do you find this event?)
- Response: C’est bien organisé, tout se passe bien. (It’s well organized; everything is running smoothly.)
Exercise to Practice “Run” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using the phrases for “run” in French that were shared earlier. Each sentence is entirely in French, followed by its English translation. The context is based on real-life situations relatable to those living in the USA.
Fill-in-the-Blanks:
- Tous les matins, je vais ______ dans le parc.
- Le directeur ______ une réunion importante aujourd’hui.
- Mon nez ______ à cause du froid.
- Nous avons ______ un marathon pour soutenir une association.
- La voiture ______ très bien après la réparation.
- Il a ______ à travers la rue pour attraper le bus.
- Elle doit ______ l’entreprise pendant que son mari est malade.
- La rivière ______ à cause des fortes pluies.
- Le programme ______ sans problème depuis ce matin.
- L’enfant ______ vite pour retrouver ses amis au parc.
- Les élèves ______ un projet scientifique pour leur classe.
- Après une longue journée, ils ont ______ pour finir leurs tâches.
Answers:
- courir
- Translation: Every morning, I go running in the park.
- dirige
- Translation: The manager runs an important meeting today.
- coule
- Translation: My nose is running because of the cold.
- organisé
- Translation: We ran a marathon to support an organization.
- fonctionne
- Translation: The car runs very well after the repair.
- couru
- Translation: He ran across the street to catch the bus.
- gérer
- Translation: She has to run the company while her husband is sick.
- déborde
- Translation: The river is running over because of heavy rains.
- fonctionne
- Translation: The program has been running smoothly since this morning.
- court
- Translation: The child runs quickly to find his friends in the park.
- lancent
- Translation: The students are running a science project for their class.
- ripé et couru
- Translation: After a long day, they ripped and ran to finish their tasks.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “run” in French opens up opportunities to express yourself in various situations. Whether you’re talking about running as an activity, managing a business, or how something operates, French offers a range of words and phrases to capture the meaning. By practicing these different expressions, you can build confidence in your conversations.
Remember, understanding the context is key when choosing the right phrase. Keep practicing the exercises and responses provided, and you’ll find it easier to use these phrases naturally in everyday interactions. With time and effort, you’ll be running toward fluency in French!