Usage Note
mâcher is used literally for chewing food, but also in the idiom ne pas mâcher ses mots — 'not to mince one's words', meaning to speak bluntly. The noun mâchoire (jaw) shares the same root.
Examples
"Il faut bien mâcher avant d'avaler."
Natural Translation
You must chew well before swallowing.
Related Words
Explore French by topic