noyer

drown

verb nwah-YEH Less Common

Also means

flood

Usage Note

Noyer means to drown someone (transitive) or to flood/overwhelm. The reflexive se noyer means 'to drown' (intransitive, of a person). Noyer is also a noun meaning 'walnut tree' — same spelling, different gender (masculine). The phrase se noyer dans un verre d'eau ('to drown in a glass of water') describes someone who panics over small obstacles.

Examples

"Il s'est presque noyé dans la rivière."

Natural Translation

He almost drowned in the river.

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