tutoyer
fr
en
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Translating...
address with tu, use the familiar form, come close to, brush with, nearly reach
/tytwaje/
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To speak with familiarity or come strikingly close to a limit or level.
Examples
Nous nous tutoyons depuis l'université.
We have used tu with each other since university.
L'alpiniste a tutoyé les sommets les plus dangereux.
The mountaineer came close to the most dangerous summits.
Il vaut mieux demander avant de tutoyer quelqu'un dans un cadre formel.
It is better to ask before using tu with someone in a formal setting.
Cette décision tutoie l'absurde.
This decision borders on the absurd.
Son dernier roman tutoie la perfection sans jamais perdre sa simplicité.
His latest novel comes close to perfection without ever losing its simplicity.
Similar words
frôler
parler en se disant tu
côtoyer
dire tu
atteindre presque
approcher
être en tutoiement
Meanings
Examples
Au bureau, tout le monde se tutoie.
At the office, everyone uses tu with one another.
Tu peux me tutoyer si tu veux.
You can use tu with me if you like.
Elle tutoie ses collègues, mais elle vouvoie les clients.
She uses tu with her colleagues but vous with clients.
Nous nous tutoyons depuis l'université.
We have used tu with each other since university.
Il vaut mieux demander avant de tutoyer quelqu'un dans un cadre formel.
It is better to ask before using tu with someone in a formal setting.
Similar words
dire tu
parler en se disant tu
être en tutoiement
Examples
Cette décision tutoie l'absurde.
This decision borders on the absurd.
L'alpiniste a tutoyé les sommets les plus dangereux.
The mountaineer came close to the most dangerous summits.
Pendant quelques secondes, il a tutoyé la mort.
For a few seconds, he brushed with death.
Son dernier roman tutoie la perfection sans jamais perdre sa simplicité.
His latest novel comes close to perfection without ever losing its simplicity.
Avec ce nouveau record, l'équipe tutoie l'excellence mondiale.
With this new record, the team nearly reaches world-class excellence.
Similar words
frôler
approcher
côtoyer
atteindre presque
Etymology
Formed from French tu and toi with the verb ending -oyer and an inserted t. It is attested from the late 14th century.
FAQ
Tutoyer usually means addressing someone with tu rather than vous. Figuratively, it can mean coming extremely close to a limit or level.
What is the opposite of tutoyer?
The usual opposite of tutoyer is vouvoyer, which means addressing someone with vous.
Can tutoyer be reciprocal?
Yes. Se tutoyer means that two or more people address one another with tu.
How is tutoyer conjugated in the present tense?
Its spelling changes before a silent e: je tutoie, tu tutoies, il or elle tutoie, but nous tutoyons and vous tutoyez.
What does tutoyer la mort mean?
Tutoyer la mort is a figurative expression meaning to come extremely close to death.
How is tutoyer pronounced?
Tutoyer is pronounced /tytwaje/ in standard metropolitan French.
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