What does pied in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word pied in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pied in French.

The word pied in French means foot, foot, foot, foot, root, plant, foot, foot, foot, on one leg, on foot, without getting your feet wet, discreet request, discreet invitation, wait resolutely, wait no matter what, at the foot of, to the letter, up against it, just miss out on a medal, at short notice, be hale and hearty, have your sea legs, be in your depth, be within your depth, have one foot in the grave, fit as a fiddle, toe clip, shoehorn, very badly, like an amateur, off balance, opposite view, opposite point of view, opposite stance, opposite direction, opposite course, opposite line, instep, instep, kick, set piece, pull the rug out from under, running, race, trip, relentlessly, from head to toe, from head to toe, from top to toe, from head to foot, one-storey, single-storey, on one level, straight to the point, on the same level as, toe, kick, set the cat amongst the pigeons, stir up a hornet's nest, footprint, keep back, hold in reserve, keep back, hold in reserve, take a thorn out of 's side, be hard at work, be working hard, be great, be amazing, be caught off guard, be wrong-footed, be standing at the ready, be ready to go into battle, play footsie with, cool your heels, hang around, trip, thumb your nose at, thumb your nose at, foot fault, kick, kick, tap your foot, footbrake, light, light, floor lamp, slow down, slow down, foot-pound, fight for every inch of ground, fight every step of the way, walking, walk, suspend, back into a corner, get a foot on the ladder, help get a foot on the ladder, put one's foot down, establish, set on equal footing, kick 's backside, give a kick in the backside, give a kick up the backside, full-length mirror, stand mirror, suspended, suspension, not know where you stand, think you are the bee's knees, start off on the right foot, start off on the wrong foot, shore fishing, be out of your depth, full-length photo, calliper, soup attachment, club foot, clubfoot, square foot, cubic foot, leading foot, take-off foot, standing foot, athlete's foot, head of celery, horse's foot, lettuce plant, microphone stand. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word pied

foot

nom masculin (extrémité d'une jambe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce footballeur est droitier mais tire mieux du pied gauche. J'ai trop marché ; j'ai mal aux pieds !
This soccer player is right handed but shoots better with his left foot. I've walked too much; my feet hurt!

foot

nom masculin (partie qui soutient [qch]) (mountain, stairs)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les pieds de cette chaise sont cassés.
This chair's legs are broken.

foot

nom masculin (partie basse de [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je laisse toujours mes chaussures au pied de l'escalier. Le bus a déposé les marcheurs au pied de la montagne.
I always leave my shoes at the bottom of the stairs.

foot

nom masculin (lit : partie opposée à la tête)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La petite fille gardait toutes ses peluches au pied de son lit.
The little girl kept all her cuddly toys at the foot of her bed.

root

nom masculin (végétal : partie au sol)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le pied de cette vigne descend profondément dans le sol.
The root of this vine goes deep into the soil.

plant

nom masculin (plant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette année, nous avons fait trente pieds de salade.
This year, we are growing thirty lettuce plants.

foot

nom masculin (vieilli (ancienne mesure) (measurement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cet homme mesurait 9 pieds de haut.
This man is 9 feet tall.

foot

nom masculin (Poésie : unité rythmique) (Poetry)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il existe plusieurs types de pieds en poésie.
There are several types of feet in poetry.

foot

nom masculin (Poésie : syllabe) (Poetry)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les alexandrins comptent douze pieds.
Alexandrines have twelve feet.

on one leg

locution adverbiale (sur un pied)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le garçon s'est blessé au pied gauche et est revenu à cloche-pied.

on foot

locution adverbiale (en marchant)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Avec ces embouteillages, tu irais plus vite à pied.
With these traffic jams, you could get there faster on foot.

without getting your feet wet

locution adverbiale (sans se mouiller)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
À marée basse, on peut passer à pied sec.

discreet request, discreet invitation

nom masculin (figuré (invitation discrète)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

wait resolutely, wait no matter what

locution verbale (être prêt à résister)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

at the foot of

(en bas de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Au pied de l'immeuble, il y a un terrain de basket.
At the foot of the building there is a basketball court.

to the letter

locution adverbiale (figuré (au 1er degré, littéralement) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Follow the instructions to the letter.

up against it

locution adverbiale (figuré (forcé de réagir, face aux choix)

just miss out on a medal

locution adverbiale (en quatrième place) (sports)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vous n'êtes pas trop déçu d'être au pied du podium ? Malheureusement, malgré tous ses efforts, le coureur français se retrouve au pied du podium.
Are you very disappointed that you just missed out on a medal?

at short notice

locution adverbiale (figuré (immédiatement, sans préparation)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

be hale and hearty

locution verbale (être alerte)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have your sea legs

locution verbale (garder son équilibre en mer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour bien voyager en bateau, il faut avoir le pied marin.

be in your depth, be within your depth

locution verbale (natation : toucher le fond des pieds)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Et reste bien où tu as pied, ma puce !

have one foot in the grave

locution verbale (familier, péjoratif (être près de mourir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

fit as a fiddle

locution adjectivale (alerte) (colloquial)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

toe clip

nom masculin (dispositif sur une pédale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le cale-pied évite au pied du cycliste de riper de la pédale.

shoehorn

nom masculin (instrument plat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
À l'aide d'un chausse-pied, Marguerite met ses chaussures.

very badly, like an amateur

locution adverbiale (familier (mal)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Tu t'y prends comme un pied : tu ne vas jamais y arriver si tu continues comme ça. J'ai joué comme un pied et bien sûr, j'ai perdu.

off balance

nom masculin (Sports : envoi de la balle du côté opposé à celui attendu) (Sport)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ce pongiste a pris son adversaire à contre-pied. Il faut bien faire sa reprise d'appuis pour éviter d'être pris à contre-pied.
You need to make sure you regain a firm footing to avoid being wrong-footed.

opposite view, opposite point of view, opposite stance

nom masculin (choix opposé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ils prenaient toujours les contre-pieds de ce que nous disions.
They would always take the opposite view to whatever we were saying.

opposite direction, opposite course, opposite line

nom masculin (direction contraire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les chiens avaient pris le contre-pied de la bête suivie.
The dogs had taken the opposite direction from their quarry.

instep

nom masculin (dessus du pied) (foot)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le karatéka frappe avec son cou-de-pied.

instep

nom masculin (partie de chaussure) (shoe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce cou-de-pied est trop étroit pour ses pieds.

kick

nom masculin (frappe du pied)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En boxe française, on a droit aux coups de pied.
In French boxing kicks are allowed.

set piece

nom masculin (coup-franc) (football)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce joueur marque souvent des buts sur coup de pied arrêté.

pull the rug out from under

(figuré (prendre quelqu'un de vitesse) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

running

nom féminin (sport de course)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
J'aime la course à pied parce qu'on peut en faire partout à moindre frais. Sophie et son mari font de la course à pied.
I love running because you can do it anywhere and it is not costly. Sophie and her husband go running.

race

nom féminin (compétition)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il sera difficile de se déplacer en ville dimanche parce que beaucoup de rues seront fermées du fait de la course à pied.
It will be difficult to get around town on Sunday as many of the roads will be closed due to the race.

trip

nom masculin (croc-en-jambe)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Il a fait un croche-pied à son adversaire pour le faire tomber !

relentlessly

locution adverbiale (de façon continue)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

from head to toe

locution adverbiale (de la tête au pied)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Justine était habillée en vert de pied en cap hier.

from head to toe, from top to toe, from head to foot

locution adverbiale (figuré (intégralement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ce dispositif de sécurité scanne les gens de pied en cap.

one-storey, single-storey

locution adjectivale (sans marche) (UK)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Cette maison de plain-pied est idéale pour les personnes âgées.

on one level

locution adverbiale (sans marche)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La maison est de plain-pied sur le jardin.

straight to the point

locution adverbiale (figuré (directement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Nous entrons de plain-pied dans la conversation.
We got straight to the point of the conversation.

on the same level as

locution adverbiale (au même niveau que [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Derrière, le 1er étage de sa maison est de plain-pied avec le jardin.

toe

nom masculin (familier (orteil)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je me suis cogné le doigt de pied contre la porte.
I stubbed my toe on the door.

kick

locution verbale (frapper avec le pied)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Il a donné un coup de pied à son frère !

set the cat amongst the pigeons, stir up a hornet's nest

locution verbale (figuré (remuer une affaire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le directeur a décidé de donner un coup de pied dans la fourmilière.

footprint

nom féminin (trace de pas)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

keep back, hold in reserve

locution verbale (familier (être capable d'accélérer la cadence)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep back, hold in reserve

locution verbale (familier (ne pas se donner à fond)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take a thorn out of 's side

(figuré (soulager [qqn] d'un fardeau)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be hard at work, be working hard

locution verbale (s'affairer, être en pleine action)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Toutes nos équipes sont à pied d'œuvre pour continuer de vous offrir le meilleur service possible.

be great, be amazing

locution verbale (familier (être génial)

Ah, les vacances au soleil, c'est le pied ! Ça serait le pied si Coldplay venait jouer dans notre ville.

be caught off guard

locution verbale (faire face à un changement, un imprévu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be wrong-footed

locution verbale (sport : être parti du mauvais côté)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be standing at the ready

locution verbale (être prêt à se battre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les armées sont sur le pied de guerre dans cette région.

be ready to go into battle

locution verbale (figuré (être fin prêt) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Marcel est sur le pied de guerre aujourd’hui.

play footsie with

locution verbale (caresser discrètement le pied de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je crois bien que ton cousin a fait du pied à ma sœur pendant le repas !

cool your heels, hang around

locution verbale (attendre impatiemment)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

trip

locution verbale (faire un croc-en-jambe)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ce footballeur a fait un croche-pied à son adversaire pour l'empêcher d'aller au but.

thumb your nose at

(avoir une attitude moqueuse) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle est sortie en faisant un pied de nez à son père.

thumb your nose at

(figuré (se moquer) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

foot fault

nom féminin (Sports : infraction au service) (racket sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

kick

locution verbale (familier (frapper avec le pied)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Dans la mêlée, ce joueur de rugby a filé un coup de pied à son adversaire.

kick

locution verbale (familier (frapper avec le pied)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
En passant, j'ai filé un coup de pied dans une cannette qui traînait par terre.

tap your foot

locution verbale (battre la mesure avec le pied)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

footbrake

nom masculin (frein principal de véhicule)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

light

adjectif invariable (vieilli (cheval: ni monté, ni attelé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les hauts-le-pied paissent dans ce champ.

light

adjectif invariable (vieilli (locomotive: seule)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les hauts-le-pied n'entraînent aucun wagon.
Light locomotives travel on their own with no carriages.

floor lamp

nom féminin (lampe sur un haut support) (US)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

slow down

locution verbale (véhicule : ralentir)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

slow down

locution verbale (travailler moins)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

foot-pound

nom masculin (unité de mesure anglo-saxonne) (unit of energy)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

fight for every inch of ground

locution verbale (combattre pour chaque mètre de terrain) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les poilus luttèrent pied à pied en 14-18

fight every step of the way

locution verbale (figuré (combattre avec acharnement) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les défenseurs luttèrent pied à pied.

walking

nom féminin (activité pédestre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La marche à pied est peut-être la meilleure activité physique qui soit.

walk

nom féminin (promenade)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous ferons une marche à pied dimanche après-midi.

suspend

locution verbale (démettre provisoirement [qqn])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

back into a corner

locution verbale (enlever toute échappatoire à [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Devant les nombreuses preuves, l'accusé est mis au pied du mur.

get a foot on the ladder

locution verbale (figuré (débuter [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

help get a foot on the ladder

locution verbale (figuré (permettre à [qqn] de débuter dans la vie) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

put one's foot down

locution verbale (accélérer à fond)

establish

locution verbale (figuré (organiser [qch], élaborer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cet architecte mit sur pied les plans du pont.

set on equal footing

locution verbale (traiter de façon équitable)

kick 's backside, give a kick in the backside

locution verbale (familier (taper au derrière) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le père a donné un coup de pied aux fesses de son enfant qui ne voulait pas avancer.

give a kick up the backside

locution verbale (figuré (stimuler) (figurative, colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet entraîneur sait mettre des coups de pied aux fesses de ses joueurs lorsqu'il le faut.

full-length mirror, stand mirror

nom masculin (miroir montrant la personne entière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

suspended

locution adjectivale (travail : suspendu)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

suspension

nom féminin (travail : suspension de [qqn])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

not know where you stand

locution verbale (être déboussolé)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

think you are the bee's knees

locution verbale (familier (ne rien se refuser) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

start off on the right foot

locution verbale (figuré (bien débuter, entamer [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

start off on the wrong foot

locution verbale (figuré (mal débuter, entamer [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

shore fishing

nom féminin (pêche sur la plage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants rapportent des coquillages de leur pêche à pied.

be out of your depth

locution verbale (être dépassé par les événements) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec la perte de son emploi et le décès de sa femme, Georges a perdu pied durant plusieurs mois.

full-length photo

nom féminin (debout)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Voici une photo en pied de toute la famille.

calliper

nom masculin (outil de mesure) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une mesure de précision peut être faite au pied à coulisse.

soup attachment

nom masculin (partie plongeante d'un mixeur) (on a mixer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

club foot, clubfoot

nom masculin (pied malformé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

square foot

nom masculin (unité de surface anglo-saxonne : 929 cm²) (measurement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

cubic foot

nom masculin (unité de volume anglo-saxonne : 28,3L) (measure)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

leading foot, take-off foot

nom masculin (Sports (pied permettant le saut) (sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pour le saut en longueur, il est important de déterminer quel est son pied d'appel.

standing foot

nom masculin (pied fort)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

athlete's foot

nom masculin (mycose des pieds) (fungal infection)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

head of celery

nom masculin (branches de céleri)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

horse's foot

nom masculin (extrémité des membres des équidés)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lettuce plant

nom masculin (plant de laitue)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le jardinier repiqua 10 pieds de laitues.

microphone stand

nom masculin (support pour micro)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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So now that you know more about the meaning of pied in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.