How do you say "kneel" in French?

s’agenouiller

Verb Noun

In French, "kneel" is s’agenouiller.

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Pronunciation

Pronounce it sah-zheh-noo-YAY, a long word where the middle genou means knee, said smoothly in one flow.

Grammar notes

s’agenouiller is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.

Example sentence

Ils s’agenouillent pour planter les fleurs.

They kneel to plant the flowers.

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How to remember s’agenouiller

Genou means knee, hidden right inside s'agenouiller, so kneeling is literally about your knee.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

Questions about s’agenouiller

How do you pronounce s’agenouiller?

Pronounce it sah-zheh-noo-YAY, a long word where the middle genou means knee, said smoothly in one flow.

Is s’agenouiller formal or casual?

s’agenouiller is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is s’agenouiller used in French?

s’agenouiller is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Ils s’agenouillent pour planter les fleurs. (They kneel to plant the flowers.).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Kneel" in other languages

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