soulever

to lift, to raise

verb sool-VEH Less Common

Also means

to stir up, to provoke

Usage Note

Soulever is used literally (soulever un couvercle = to lift a lid) and figuratively (soulever une question = to raise a question, soulever l'enthousiasme = to stir up enthusiasm). The reflexive se soulever can mean to rise up in revolt. The noun soulèvement means an uprising.

Examples

"Il soulève des poids à la salle de sport."

Natural Translation

He lifts weights at the gym.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 1 to 100: Count With Confidence

French numbers 1 to 100 in one complete chart, with pronunciation, the et-un rule, hyphens, and the four-twenties system explained so you can count anywhere.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read