French Word of the Day: Doper
This French word does not have anything to do with one of Snow White’s seven dwarves, even if it might look like it.
Why do I need to know doper?
Because you may not have realised you can use this word in several different contexts.
What does it mean?
Doper – roughly pronounced doe-pay – shares the same meaning as the English word “to dope” - in the sense that it means taking or giving a stimulant before a sporting event or competition.
It doesn't carry the English sense of 'to sedate', however, nor is it used as a nickname for marijuana.
In French this word is not only used when describing an athlete who has resorted to unfair methods to win. In fact, you will see this word in many other contexts as well because doper also means to stimulate or boost something in a generic sense.
If you open a business newspaper in France, you might see an article using doper in the headline - perhaps one that discusses how the government plans to stimulate a dying sector of the economy.
If you want a synonym for doper, you can still use the verb stimuler (to stimulate) or dynamiser (to rejuvenate).
And Snow White? In France she is Blanche Comme Neige and the dwarfs are Prof (Doc), Timide (Bashful) Atchoum (Sneezy), Joyeux (Happy), Dormeur (Sleepy), Grincheux (Grumpy) and Simplet (Dopey).
Use it like this
La France dispose d'un plan national pour doper une énergie renouvelable prometteuse : la géothermie. – France has a national plan to boost a promising renewable energy: geothermal.
Les récentes réductions d'impôts et certaines autres mesures prévues sont destinées à doper l'emploi. – The recent tax cuts and other measures planned are intended to boost employment.
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Why do I need to know doper?
Because you may not have realised you can use this word in several different contexts.
What does it mean?
Doper – roughly pronounced doe-pay – shares the same meaning as the English word “to dope” - in the sense that it means taking or giving a stimulant before a sporting event or competition.
It doesn't carry the English sense of 'to sedate', however, nor is it used as a nickname for marijuana.
In French this word is not only used when describing an athlete who has resorted to unfair methods to win. In fact, you will see this word in many other contexts as well because doper also means to stimulate or boost something in a generic sense.
If you open a business newspaper in France, you might see an article using doper in the headline - perhaps one that discusses how the government plans to stimulate a dying sector of the economy.
If you want a synonym for doper, you can still use the verb stimuler (to stimulate) or dynamiser (to rejuvenate).
And Snow White? In France she is Blanche Comme Neige and the dwarfs are Prof (Doc), Timide (Bashful) Atchoum (Sneezy), Joyeux (Happy), Dormeur (Sleepy), Grincheux (Grumpy) and Simplet (Dopey).
Use it like this
La France dispose d'un plan national pour doper une énergie renouvelable prometteuse : la géothermie. – France has a national plan to boost a promising renewable energy: geothermal.
Les récentes réductions d'impôts et certaines autres mesures prévues sont destinées à doper l'emploi. – The recent tax cuts and other measures planned are intended to boost employment.
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