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avaler

to swallow

verb ah-vah-LEH Less Common
Body & Health Movement

Origin: Old French avaler, from aval (downstream, down)

Also means

to gulp down, to put up with

Usage Note

avaler is a regular -er verb. Figuratively it means 'to swallow' something unpleasant, as in avaler des couleuvres ('to put up with insults without protest'). Difficile à avaler means 'hard to swallow' (literally or figuratively).

Examples

"Il a avalé son repas trop vite."

Natural Translation

He swallowed his meal too fast.

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