Marcher is probably the first word you learned when it comes to saying "to walk" in French. And while it's perfectly correct, the French language, much like English, offers a delightful variety of verbs to express this simple action.

Knowing these alternatives will not only enrich your vocabulary but also allow you to convey subtle nuances and sound much more natural in your conversations.

So, step right up! Let's explore 9 different ways to say "to walk" in French, each with its own flavor and context!

The standard 'to walk' – marcher

The standard “to walk” – marcher

Marcher is the most common and versatile verb for “to walk” in French.

As a regular -ER verb, its conjugation follows predictable patterns, making it relatively easy to master for beginners.

It is used in a wide range of contexts, from describing the physical act of moving on foot to more figurative expressions.

Primarily, marcher directly translates to “to walk” or “to go on foot.” You can use it when talking about walking to a place, walking for exercise, or simply the act of walking.

Beyond its literal meaning, marcher is also frequently used to mean “to work” or “to function” when referring to objects, machines, or systems.

This figurative use is extremely common. For example, if a device is marche, it means it is working or functioning properly. If something ne marche pas, it means it’s broken or not functioning.

While marcher implies a general or purposeful movement on foot, other verbs like se promener (to stroll, to take a walk) are used for more leisurely or recreational walks.

You'll often hear it in common phrases such as marcher à pied (to walk on foot, to go by foot) or faire marcher quelque chose (to make something work/function).

Its versatility and dual meanings make marcher an essential verb for any French learner to know and understand, covering both physical movement and the functionality of things.

💡 * Je marche tous les jours pour aller au travail. (I walk every day to go to work.)

Le téléphone ne marche plus. (The phone isn't working anymore.)

Nous avons marché pendant des heures dans la forêt. (We walked for hours in the forest.)

Est-ce que ce plan va marcher ? (Is this plan going to work?)

Il faut marcher à pied jusqu'à la gare. (You have to walk on foot to the train station.)

To take a walk, to stroll – se promener

The French verb se promener is a common and useful reflexive verb that translates to "to take a walk" or "to stroll."

The "se" part of se promener indicates that the action is performed by the subject on themselves or for themselves. This reflexive pronoun changes according to the subject (e.g., je me promène, tu te promènes, il/elle/on se promène, nous nous promenons, vous vous promenez, ils/elles se promènent).

As a regular -er verb, its present tense conjugation is straightforward. Crucially, like all reflexive verbs, se promener uses the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses such as the passé composé (e.g., je me suis promené(e), nous nous sommes promené(e)s).

While marcher simply means "to walk" (the act of moving on foot), se promener carries the nuance of a leisurely, often enjoyable activity. It implies walking for pleasure, relaxation, or exploration, rather than just getting from point A to point B.

This verb isn't just for people; you can also se promener with a dog (promener son chien or se promener avec son chien), or even refer to taking a vehicle for a drive (se promener en voiture – to go for a drive/ride). The key is the idea of a leisurely outing.

💡 * Nous nous promenons dans le parc tous les dimanches. (We walk/stroll in the park every Sunday.)

Elle s'est promenée le long de la plage hier après-midi. (She strolled along the beach yesterday afternoon.)

Les enfants aiment se promener à vélo dans la campagne. (The children like to go for a bike ride in the countryside.)

Il promène son chien tous les matins avant le travail. (He walks his dog every morning before work.)

Je me suis promené en ville pour voir les nouvelles boutiques. (I took a walk in town to see the new shops.)

To wander aimlessly, to stroll idly – flâner

The verb flâner captures a uniquely French art of leisurely wandering without a specific destination, often for pleasure or observation.

At its heart, flâner means 'to stroll,' 'to wander,' or 'to saunter.' It implies an unhurried pace and an aimless, relaxed movement, often observing one's surroundings.

This verb is famously associated with the noun un flâneur (a male wanderer) or une flâneuse (a female wanderer), a figure in French culture who observes society while strolling through city streets.

Flâner is typically used to describe walking through a park, a city, or even a market, simply enjoying the moment and taking in the atmosphere.

Unlike verbs like marcher (to walk) or se promener (to take a walk, often with a purpose), flâner specifically emphasizes the lack of urgency and the joy of spontaneous movement.

💡 * J'aime flâner dans les rues de Paris. (I like to wander aimlessly in the streets of Paris.)* Nous avons flâné sur la plage toute l'après-midi. (We strolled on the beach all afternoon.)* Il flâne souvent au marché, juste pour regarder. (He often wanders around the market, just to look.)* Elle a passé son dimanche à flâner dans les jardins publics. (She spent her Sunday strolling in the public gardens.)

To wander or stroll (often without a specific destination) – déambuler

The verb déambuler in French means “to wander” or “to stroll.” It’s a versatile verb for describing leisurely movement.

It specifically implies a relaxed, often aimless movement, without a fixed destination in mind. Think of it as a leisurely saunter or amble, rather than a purposeful walk.

You'll often hear déambuler used when describing people strolling through a park, a museum, a pedestrian street, or a market, simply enjoying the atmosphere or observing their surroundings.

Unlike some other verbs for walking, déambuler often carries a pleasant connotation, suggesting the person is enjoying their unhurried movement and the freedom of not having a strict schedule.

💡 * Elle aime déambuler dans les rues de Paris. (She likes to wander through the streets of Paris.)

Les touristes déambulaient dans le musée, admirant les œuvres. (The tourists strolled through the museum, admiring the works.)

Nous avons déambulé le long de la plage au coucher du soleil. (We wandered along the beach at sunset.)

Les enfants déambulaient sans but dans le jardin. (The children wandered aimlessly in the garden.)

To make one's way, to walk along a path – cheminer

The verb cheminer means "to make one's way" or "to walk along a path." It comes directly from the noun chemin, meaning "path" or "way."

Unlike a simple "walk," cheminer often implies a more deliberate, steady, or reflective progression. It can refer to a physical journey, but frequently carries a metaphorical sense of progress or development.

While marcher is a general verb for "to walk," cheminer emphasizes the act of following a chemin (path). Think of it as "to path" or "to journey along a path," rather than just "to put one foot in front of the other."

Beyond physical movement, cheminer is commonly used to describe intellectual, emotional, or spiritual progress. One might cheminer towards an understanding, through a thought process, or along a life's journey.

This verb tends to be more formal or literary than marcher. It evokes a sense of purpose and often a poetic or philosophical undertone, making it suitable for reflective writing or thoughtful conversation.

💡 * Elle aimait cheminer tranquillement le long de la rivière. (She liked to walk peacefully along the river.)

Mes pensées cheminent vers une solution. (My thoughts are progressing towards a solution.)

Il chemine dans la vie avec sagesse. (He makes his way through life with wisdom.)

Le projet chemine bien. (The project is progressing well.)

Nous avons cheminé ensemble pendant de nombreuses années. (We have journeyed together for many years.)

To stride, to pace, to traverse – arpenter

The French verb arpenter is a wonderfully evocative term that goes beyond simply 'to walk.' It translates most closely to 'to stride,' 'to pace,' or 'to traverse,' suggesting a more deliberate, often extensive, and sometimes repeated movement.

Unlike the general verb marcher (to walk), arpenter implies a more purposeful or even exploratory movement. It suggests covering a certain area, often with a measured or observant gait, rather than just moving from one point to another.

You'll typically use arpenter when describing someone exploring a city, pacing a room out of impatience or thought, or traversing a path or territory. It conjures an image of someone taking in their surroundings as they move.

While marcher is a generic 'to walk,' and parcourir means 'to travel across' or 'to cover a distance,' arpenter specifically emphasizes the manner of walking – a steady, often investigative, or even contemplative stride. It’s less about the destination and more about the act of covering the ground.

Using arpenter paints a richer picture than simply saying someone walked. It adds a layer of intention, observation, or even a sense of being lost in thought, making it a favorite among writers and poets for its descriptive power.

💡 *Il aimait arpenter les rues de Paris pendant des heures. (He loved to stride through the streets of Paris for hours.)
*Elle arpentait la pièce, visiblement nerveuse. (She paced the room, visibly nervous.)
*Les explorateurs ont arpenté la jungle à la recherche de ruines antiques. (The explorers traversed the jungle in search of ancient ruins.)
*Le détective arpentait la scène du crime avec un regard attentif. (The detective paced the crime scene with an attentive gaze.)

The informal 'to take a walk' or 'to stroll' – se balader

The verb se balader is an informal and very common way to say 'to take a walk' or 'to stroll'. It implies a leisurely, unhurried walk, often without a specific destination, just enjoying the surroundings.

As a reflexive verb, se balader always requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) before the verb, reflecting the action back on the subject. For example, je me balade (I take a walk) or nous nous baladons (we stroll).

While similar to se promener (also 'to take a walk'), se balader often carries a slightly more casual, relaxed, or even wandering connotation. It's ideal for describing a spontaneous and pleasant wander, often in an urban or natural setting.

💡 * Je me balade souvent dans le parc après le travail. (I often take a walk in the park after work.)

Elle adore se balader le long de la plage au coucher du soleil. (She loves to stroll along the beach at sunset.)

Nous nous sommes baladés pendant des heures dans les rues de Paris. (We walked around for hours in the streets of Paris.)

Tu te balades où aujourd'hui? (Where are you walking today?)

Ils se baladent toujours ensemble le dimanche. (They always stroll together on Sundays.)

To wander, to roam (often implying aimlessness or being lost) – errer

The French verb errer translates directly to to wander or to roam in English.

Crucially, errer often carries a connotation of aimlessness, uncertainty, or even being lost, distinguishing it from simpler verbs like se promener (to walk around).

It can describe physical movement without a clear destination, or figuratively, a mind whose thoughts wander or stray.

Errer is a regular -ER verb and typically uses the auxiliary verb avoir in compound tenses (e.g., J'ai erré - I wandered).

💡 *Il a erré dans la forêt pendant des heures. (He wandered in the forest for hours.)
*Mes pensées errent quand je suis fatigué. (My thoughts wander when I'm tired.)
*Les animaux errent à la recherche de nourriture. (The animals roam in search of food.)
*Elle se sentait perdue et errait sans but dans la ville. (She felt lost and wandered aimlessly in the city.)

To frolic, to skip, to gambol – gambader

The French verb gambader translates to "to frolic," "to skip," or "to gambol." It describes a light, joyful, and often playful movement, typically associated with a sense of freedom and exuberance.

Gambader specifically evokes the image of someone or something moving with quick, lively steps, often leaping or prancing. It's frequently used for young animals like lambs or puppies, and for children, highlighting their carefree energy.

You'll often hear gambader in contexts where there's open space for movement, such as fields, gardens, or parks. It emphasizes an uninhibited, natural way of moving, distinct from simply walking or running. It carries a strong connotation of happiness and vitality.

As a regular -ER verb, gambader is conjugated straightforwardly. Its core meaning consistently revolves around lighthearted, energetic, and often spontaneous movement. While it can apply to adults, it generally retains a whimsical or youthful feel.

💡 *Les agneaux gambadaient joyeusement dans le pré. (The lambs frolicked joyfully in the meadow.)
*Les enfants aiment gambader dans le jardin. (The children love to skip in the garden.)
*Le chiot gambadait derrière sa mère. (The puppy gamboled behind its mother.)
*Elle se sentait si libre qu'elle avait envie de gambader. (She felt so free she wanted to frolic.)
*Le printemps invite à gambader dehors. (Spring invites one to gambol outside.)

Are there other ways to say 'to walk' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'to walk' in French. But the French language, especially across different Francophone regions, offers a rich vocabulary for various types of movement, from old-fashioned terms to contemporary slang.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire marcher en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for marcher on this list, or others in your research. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different nuances and expressions for walking or moving on foot.

And if you’re looking for more specific verbs related to different ways of walking, or phrases about movement in French, the WordReference entry for marcher is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary for movement. Here’s a thought-provoking quote to finish, often attributed to Lao Tzu: Un voyage de mille lieues commence toujours par un premier pas. (A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.)

9 ways to say "to walk" in French