/ʁə.ky.le/
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Translation
to move back, to back away, to postpone
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Word origin
From Old French reculer, formed from re- ('back') and cul ('backside'), from Latin culus. English recoil was borrowed from the same Old French verb.
- Origin
- Old French
- Root
- reculer
- English cognates
- recoil
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | recule | reculais | reculai | reculerai | reculerais |
| tu | recules | reculais | reculas | reculeras | reculerais |
| il/elle | recule | reculait | recula | reculera | reculerait |
| nous | reculons | reculions | reculâmes | reculerons | reculerions |
| vous | reculez | reculiez | reculâtes | reculerez | reculeriez |
| ils/elles | reculent | reculaient | reculèrent | reculeront | reculeraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | recule | reculasse |
| tu | recules | reculasses |
| il/elle | recule | reculât |
| nous | reculions | reculassions |
| vous | reculiez | reculassiez |
| ils/elles | reculent | reculassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | recule |
| nous | reculons |
| vous | reculez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- reculant
- Past participle
- reculé · reculée · reculés · reculées
Examples
, .
Move back a bit, I cannot see anything.
.
The dog backed away as soon as it heard the noise.
.
She put back her departure date by two weeks.
.
He does not shrink from any difficulty.
.
The car reversed slowly down the drive.
Where this fits
Used in
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French · Free printables
reculer: worksheet, infographic and listicleThe padlock and Plus mark show a Kilo Lingo Plus feature. Start your free week to unlock it - no card needed.
Free printable study downloads for the French word "reculer" (to move back, to back away, to postpone): 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 14, lesson 6: reculer, série, vacances and 7 more words.