How to Say ‘Lean forward’ in French
Penche-toi
pahnsh twah
[pahnsh twah]
💬 Usage Tip: From the reflexive verb se pencher, meaning to lean. On its own, penche-toi means 'lean' or 'bend yourself'.
🇫🇷 In France: Reflexive verbs are super common in French movement instructions—they make the body sound like it's getting its own mini command.
Phrase Breakdown
Penche
[pahnsh]
lean / bend
An instruction telling one person to bend or lean the body.
Penche vers la droite avec contrôle.
Lean to the right with control.
toi
[twah]
yourself
Reflexive pronoun used with an action done by the person to themselves.
Toi, garde le dos long.
You, keep your back long.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer