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Coup de ongle ou se gratter la tété
I know the French words for scratching your head are 'se gratter la téte'.
However, to scratch with fingernail is ' coup de ongle' in French.
In any case, you can't scratch your head without finger nails.
1.I scratch my head.
2.He scratches his head when in difficulty.
How do you translate the above into French?
However, to scratch with fingernail is ' coup de ongle' in French.
In any case, you can't scratch your head without finger nails.
1.I scratch my head.
2.He scratches his head when in difficulty.
How do you translate the above into French?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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If you're scratching without nails, or just lightly, the French verb is "gratter".
If you're using your nails, the verb is "griffer". This is also what an animal would do with his claws.
If you're scratching a surface, the verb is "rayer".
Il se gratte la tête.
Le chat m'a griffé.
L'écran de mon iPod est rayé.
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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on -
Thanks Frank
When do you use the words 'coup de ongle'?
I would like to know an example from you.
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When do you use the words 'coup de ongle'?
Well... never :)
"coup d'ongle" means that you punched something with a fingernail, but it was light and/or unintentional.
La peinture est de mauvaise qualité, on peut l'enlever d'un coup d'ongle (a light touch is enough)
Je me suis fait mal à l'oeil en me donnant un coup d'ongle (it was unintentional)
"Coup de griffe", is something you can use about animals. It's fierce, with the intent to hurt or to kill.
L'ours a donné un coup de griffe.
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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on
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Je me suis fait mal à l'oeil en me donnant un coup d'ongle. (it was unintentional)
I hurt my ears because I scratched it.
[ I have difficulty in understanding Frank's sentence. I hope I translated into English properly.]
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L'ours a donné un coup de griffe.
Bears have got some beatings OR Someone beat the bears.
[ I have difficulty in understanding Frank's sentence. I hope I translated into English properly.]
Please correct me.
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