surfer

to surf

verb sur-FEH Rare

Also means

to browse (the internet)

Usage Note

Surfer is borrowed from English and used in two main contexts: surfing waves (surfer sur les vagues) and browsing online (surfer sur Internet). The metaphor of 'surfing the web' transferred directly into French. The noun is le surf (the sport). Surfer sur la vague can also mean to ride a wave of popularity or trend.

Examples

"Il passe ses vacances à surfer sur les plages de Biarritz."

Natural Translation

He spends his holidays surfing on the beaches of Biarritz.

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