galop

gallop

noun gah-LOH Rare

Origin: Old French 'galop', of Germanic origin

Usage Note

Galop is the fastest of the three horse gaits (after le pas and le trot). The final -p is silent. Au galop also means 'at full speed' in informal French: fais-le au galop! ('do it quick!'). The related verb is galoper.

Examples

"Le cheval partait au galop dans la prairie."

Natural Translation

The horse galloped off across the meadow.

Literal Translation

The horse left at the gallop in the meadow.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

How to Pronounce the French R (Step by Step)

The French R is a back-of-the-throat sound, not a rolled R. Learn the exact tongue position and a step-by-step drill to build it from sounds you already make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read