rétrécir

to shrink, to narrow

verb reh-treh-SEER Rare

Usage Note

Rétrécir describes something becoming smaller — fabric that shrinks in the wash (ce tissu rétrécit au lavage), a road that narrows, or a view that contracts. The reflexive se rétrécir is also used. It is a regular -ir verb. The noun rétrécissement means a narrowing or stricture.

Examples

"Mon pull a rétréci au lavage."

Natural Translation

My jumper shrank in the wash.

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

Le, La, Un, Du: French Articles Made Simple

Le, la, un, du, des made simple: pick the French article family by meaning, the form by gender, and dodge the two mistakes English speakers always make.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

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