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broyer

to grind, to crush

verb brwah-YAY Rare

Usage Note

Broyer is a regular -er verb with a spelling-change (y→i before a mute e: je broie). The idiom broyer du noir means 'to be in low spirits, to feel blue' — a vivid expression a learner can use immediately to describe a bad mood.

Examples

"Il broie les épices dans un mortier."

Natural Translation

He grinds the spices in a mortar.

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