/ɡoʃ/
Translation
left; clumsy
Word origin
From the verb gauchir ('to swerve, to warp'), of Frankish origin from a Germanic root meaning 'to walk crookedly'. The adjective came to mean 'left', the awkward side, and was borrowed into English as 'gauche' ('socially clumsy').
- Origin
- Frankish
- Root
- wankjan
- English cognates
- gauche
Grammar
Examples
au l'.
Turn left at the next traffic light to join the motorway.
.
She has written with her left hand since she was very young.
, l' .
He was a little awkward at the reception, not very comfortable in social situations.
, .
Turn left after the bridge, then keep going straight.
l'.
He has written with his left hand since childhood.
est un adjectif avec deux sens : la direction (left) et la maladresse (clumsy, awkward). Comme nom feminin, la gauche designe aussi le bord politique de gauche. A gauche (to the left) et sur la gauche (on the left) sont les locutions prepositionnelles.
Passer l'arme a gauche (to kick the bucket, to die) est une expression argotique. Mariage de la main gauche designait historiquement un mariage morganatique. De gauche designe quelqu'un de progressiste politiquement. Gauchiste (far-left) est derive. Gaucherie (f) designe la maladresse.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(1)Grammar articles
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 16.