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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "yawn" in French?
bâiller
In French, "yawn" is bâiller.
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Pronunciation
Say bah-YAY, with the y gliding softly between the two open vowels, stress on the last syllable.
Grammar notes
bâiller is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.
Example sentence
La longue conférence m’a fait bâiller.
The long lecture made me yawn.
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How to remember bâiller
Picture a baby yawning wide and saying bah before drifting off to sleep, close to bâiller.
Related words
- whistle siffler
- hiccup hoqueter
- blink cligner des yeux
- stretch s’étirer
- bend plier
- kneel s’agenouiller
- squat s'accroupir
- compare comparer
- contrast contraster
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about bâiller
How do you pronounce bâiller?
Say bah-YAY, with the y gliding softly between the two open vowels, stress on the last syllable.
Is bâiller formal or casual?
bâiller is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is bâiller used in French?
bâiller is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: La longue conférence m’a fait bâiller. (The long lecture made me yawn.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Yawn" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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