tordre

twist

verb TOR-druh Less Common

Origin: Latin torquere (to twist)

Also means

wring

Usage Note

Tordre is an irregular verb of the -re group. It appears in the reflexive phrase se tordre de rire ('to be doubled over laughing') and in physical contexts like wringing laundry. The adjective tordu means 'twisted' or colloquially 'crazy/weird'. Tordre le bras à quelqu'un means 'to twist someone's arm'.

Examples

"Il faut tordre le linge pour l'essorer."

Natural Translation

You have to wring the laundry to squeeze out the water.

Literal Translation

You have to twist the laundry to wring it out.

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