grimper

climb, clamber

verb gran-PEH Less Common

Usage Note

Grimper implies climbing with effort, often using hands and feet — up trees, walls, or steep paths. It is also used figuratively for prices or statistics (les prix grimpent — prices are climbing). The noun grimpeur refers to a climber, particularly in cycling for a hill-specialist rider. Compare with monter, which is more neutral and covers stairways and vehicles.

Examples

"Les enfants aiment grimper aux arbres."

Natural Translation

Children love climbing trees.

Literal Translation

Children love to climb in trees.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

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

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 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

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read