What does se prendre in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word se prendre in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use se prendre in French.

The word se prendre in French means take, take, take, catch, take, take, take, take down, write down, take, take, get, receive, put on, put on, see, mistake for, set, get caught in , get caught up in, bang into , bash into, get, take yourself for, believe yourself to be, start to do , start doing, lash out at, take, set, work, go via, ask, take, accept, take, lead, take, capture, take, take, have, take off, take for, catch doing, take on, take on at, come over, don't worry too much about , don't bother too much about, not worry too much about , not bother too much about, take yourself seriously, take yourself too seriously. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word se prendre

take

verbe transitif (saisir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
J'ai pris le livre qui traînait sur la table et l'ai mis sur l'étagère. Il prend toujours les bûches avec des gants.
He always takes hold of the logs wearing gloves.

take

verbe transitif (emporter avec soi)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
N'oublie pas de prendre tes papiers.
Don't forget to take your papers.

take

verbe transitif (dérober, subtiliser)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Notre concurrent nous a pris toutes nos bonnes idées !
Our competitor has taken all our good ideas!

catch

verbe transitif (attraper)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
J'ai pris une souris avec la tapette.
I caught a mouse with the mousetrap.

take

verbe transitif (utiliser : un moyen de transport)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Nous prenons l'avion pour aller au Brésil. Moi, je prends toujours l'escalier plutôt que l'ascenseur.
We're taking the plane to Brazil. I always take the stairs, rather than the lift.

take

verbe transitif (suivre : une route)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Prends la nationale, ça va plus vite. Prenez la deuxième rue à droite. Comment prendre un rond-point quand on est en vélo ?
How do you go round a roundabout on a bike?

take

verbe transitif (choisir, sélectionner)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Quels cours as-tu pris cette année ?
What courses did you take this year?

take down, write down

verbe transitif (noter, relever)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Peux-tu prendre les mesures de ton meuble et me les donner ? Prenez des notes parce que je ne vais pas le répéter deux fois.
Take notes because I'm not saying it twice.

take

verbe transitif (mesurer : une constante)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
L'infirmier prend la tension et le pouls de ce malade trois fois par jour.
The nurse takes the patient's blood pressure and pulse three times a day.

take

verbe transitif (nécessiter : du temps)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cela nous prend deux heures pour aller à Paris.
It takes us two hours to get to Paris.

get, receive

verbe transitif (recevoir : un coup)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Il a encore pris une gifle par sa mère.
He got another slap from his mother.

put on, put on

verbe transitif (grossir)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
J'ai pris 2 kilos pendant les fêtes.
I put on two kilos over Christmas.

see

verbe transitif (recevoir [qqn])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le docteur me prend cet après-midi.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. I'm quite busy tomorrow, but I think I can fit you in at 3 o'clock.

mistake for

(confondre [qqn])

Excusez-moi, je vous ai pris pour une de mes connaissances.
I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone I knew.

set

verbe intransitif (se figer)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Ma mayonnaise n'a pas pris, elle est retombée.
My mayonnaise didn't set; it's collapsed.

get caught in , get caught up in

(se coincer, s'accrocher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
En allant récupérer le ballon dans les buissons, mes cheveux se sont pris dans les branches.
When I went to retrieve the ball from the bushes, my hair got caught in the branches.

bang into , bash into

verbe pronominal (familier (se cogner contre) (through your movement)

Je me suis pris un poteau en faisant du skate. Sur les images, on voit un singe qui se prend une noix de coco sur la tête en passant sous un cocotier.
In the images, you can see a monkey get hit on the head by a coconut as he goes under a palm tree.

get

verbe pronominal (familier (recevoir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Julien s'est pris une mauvaise note à son examen. Je me suis encore pris un PV en allant au boulot.
Julian got a bad mark in his exam. I got another speeding ticket on my way to work.

take yourself for, believe yourself to be

(se croire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Depuis sa promotion, il se prend pour un expert qu'il n'est pas.
Since his promotion, he's been taking himself for an expert and he definitely isn't.

start to do , start doing

verbe pronominal (se mettre à)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Arthur se prend rarement à ranger sa chambre sans qu'on le lui demande.
Arthur rarely sets about tidying his room without being asked to do so.

lash out at

(attaquer, prendre pour responsable) (criticize: figurative)

L'usager s'en est pris à la guichetière qui n'y était pourtant pour rien.
The passenger took his frustration (or: anger) out on the ticket seller, even though she had nothing to do with it.

take

verbe intransitif (feu : brûler)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Le feu n'a pas pris, tu devrais le relancer.
The fire hasn't taken; you're going to have to try again.

set

verbe intransitif (être à point)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
N'y touche pas, le plâtre n'a pas encore pris !
Don't touch that; the plaster hasn't set yet!

work

verbe intransitif (fonctionner)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Ce petit jeu ne prend pas avec lui. La chaîne avait fait plein de promo pour son nouveau jeu, mais ça n'a pas pris et il a été arrêté au bout d'un mois seulement.
That little game won't work with him. The channel really pushed its new game, but it didn't work and it was pulled after just a month.

go via

(passer par quelque part)

Ils prennent toujours par la forêt.
They always go via the forest.

ask

verbe transitif (demander : de l'argent)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Ce commerçant ne nous prend pas trop cher pour ça.
This shopkeeper isn't asking too much for that.

take, accept

verbe transitif (accepter)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cette école ne prend que les meilleurs élèves. Est-ce que vous prenez la carte bancaire ?
That school only takes the best pupils. Do you accept cards?

take, lead

verbe transitif (transporter)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Elle a pris les enfants jusqu'à l'école.
She took the children to school.

take, capture

verbe transitif (se rendre maître)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Les soldats ont pris la ville.
The soldiers took the town.

take

verbe transitif (accepter, interpréter)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
J'ai dit à mon copain qu'il était un peu gros et il l'a très mal pris. Prends tout ce qu'il dit avec humour.
I told my boyfriend that he's a bit fat and he took it really badly. Take everything he says with a bit of humour.

take

verbe transitif (posséder sexuellement) (sex)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Oh oui, Brian, prends-moi, tout de suite, maintenant !
Oh yes, Brian. Take me; take me now!

have

verbe transitif (consommer, manger) (food)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Au petit déjeuner, je prends des céréales et des fruits. Moi, je vais prendre les lasagnes, s'il vous plaît.
I have cereal and fruit for breakfast. I'll have the lasagna, please.

take off

verbe transitif (poser : un congé)

Je ne mangerai avec vous ce midi parce que j'ai pris mon après-midi. Ma collègue ne sera pas là demain parce qu'elle a pris son jeudi.
I won't have lunch with you today, as I've taken the afternoon off. My colleague won't be here tomorrow, as she's taken Thursday off.

take for

verbe transitif (considérer [qqn] comme [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vincent prend Sophie pour une bonne poire. J'en ai marre que les gens me prennent pour une folle.

catch doing

verbe transitif (surprendre [qqn] sur le fait)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le voisin nous a pris à lancer des cailloux sur son chien.

take on

verbe transitif (s'engager à jouer contre [qqn]) (opponent)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Jouez d'abord tous les deux, je prendrai le gagnant !

take on at

(familier (se mesurer à [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je te prends quand tu veux aux échecs !

come over

(émotion,... : submerger [qqn]) (emotion)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Je ne sais pas ce qui me prend mais je n'arrête pas de pleurer. Mais qu'est-ce qui t'a pris de frapper ce chien ?

don't worry too much about , don't bother too much about

locution verbale (familier (faire au plus simple)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not worry too much about , not bother too much about

locution verbale (familier (faire au plus simple)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take yourself seriously, take yourself too seriously

(péjoratif (être trop imbu de soi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette comédienne se prend au sérieux.

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