raconter

to tell (a story)

verb rah-kohn-TEH Common

Also means

to recount

Usage Note

Raconter is the everyday verb for telling stories or anecdotes, stronger than dire (to say) in that it implies a narrative arc. The phrase raconter des histoires literally means 'to tell stories' but idiomatically means 'to make things up' or 'to give excuses.' It comes from Latin recomputare via Old French.

Examples

"Elle raconte une histoire à son fils."

Natural Translation

She tells her son a story.

Literal Translation

She tells a story to her son.

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