Rôder (en. To prowl)

ʁɔ.de

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
verb
To make comings and goings in a place.
He roamed around the house all night.
Il a rôdé autour de la maison toute la nuit.
To wander aimlessly.
Young people like to roam the streets in the evening.
Les jeunes aiment rôder dans les rues le soir.
To stroll in an area in search of something.
She often roams near the shops.
Elle rôde souvent près des magasins.
To observe discreetly.
He was roaming in the area, clearly curious.
Il rôdait dans les parages, visiblement curieux.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 'roam', with an ancient origin, evoking the idea of wandering.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to roam around
To be present without showing oneself clearly.
rôder autour
to roam in the area
To be nearby, without a specific purpose.
rôder dans les parages
to roam like an animal
To move stealthily while observing.
rôder comme un animal
to roam in search of something
To wander in order to find an object or a person.
rôder à la recherche de quelque chose

Related Words

prowler
A person who roams, often with a negative connotation.
rôdeur
roaming
The act of roaming, especially before a presentation or event.
rôdage
roams
A conjugated form of the verb to roam.
rôde

Slang Meanings

Hanging around without doing anything.
Stop roaming and find yourself a job!
Arrête de rôder, trouve-toi un job !
To observe discreetly to avoid drawing attention.
He likes to roam when there are people around to avoid being noticed.
Il aime rôder quand il y a du monde pour ne pas se faire remarquer.