/de.bʁu.je/
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Translation
to manage, to cope, to get by (se débrouiller); to untangle, to sort out
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Word origin
From dé- ('un-, reversing') and brouiller ('to muddle, to blur'), so literally to un-muddle something. Brouiller itself comes from Old French brou ('broth, murky liquid'). English 'embroil' was borrowed from the related French embrouiller.
- Origin
- French
- Root
- brouiller
- English cognates
- embroil
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | débrouille | débrouillais | débrouillai | débrouillerai | débrouillerais |
| tu | débrouilles | débrouillais | débrouillas | débrouilleras | débrouillerais |
| il/elle | débrouille | débrouillait | débrouilla | débrouillera | débrouillerait |
| nous | débrouillons | débrouillions | débrouillâmes | débrouillerons | débrouillerions |
| vous | débrouillez | débrouilliez | débrouillâtes | débrouillerez | débrouilleriez |
| ils/elles | débrouillent | débrouillaient | débrouillèrent | débrouilleront | débrouilleraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | débrouille | débrouillasse |
| tu | débrouilles | débrouillasses |
| il/elle | débrouille | débrouillât |
| nous | débrouillions | débrouillassions |
| vous | débrouilliez | débrouillassiez |
| ils/elles | débrouillent | débrouillassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | débrouille |
| nous | débrouillons |
| vous | débrouillez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- débrouillant
- Past participle
- débrouillé · débrouillée · débrouillés · débrouillées
Examples
, .
Do not worry, I will manage.
.
She gets by very well in Spanish.
- , .
Sort it out yourself, you are old enough.
.
We had to cope without a car for a month.
.
The accountant untangled the situation in ten minutes.
Where this fits
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French · Free printables
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Free printable study downloads for the French word "débrouiller" (to manage, to cope, to get by (se débrouiller); to untangle, to sort out): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 22, lesson 4: débrouiller, honnêtement, furieux and 7 more words.