Skip to content

décamper

run away

verb deh-kahn-PEH Rare
Travel & Places Movement

Also means

clear off

Usage Note

Décamper means to leave hastily, often to flee a difficult or embarrassing situation — stronger than partir and somewhat informal. It derives from camp (military camp), originally meaning to break camp. A common familiar variant is ficher le camp or foutre le camp, both meaning to clear off, though more vulgar.

Examples

"Ils ont décampé avant l'arrivée de la police."

Natural Translation

They ran away before the police arrived.

Explore French by topic