The vocabulary of exercise is used to talk about the body in action, in a sports class, at the gym, in the park or at home. We use it to say what we do, what we watch and what we ask someone to do. The most common words cover movement, training and rhythm. For the body, we can also review Parties du Corps, because many sports expressions use body parts as a starting point.

glissercourirfaire du vélomarcherpatinergrimperdansernagersauterrandonner

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Se déplacer dans l eau en utilisant les bras et les jambesSe déplacer sur une bicycletteSe déplacer rapidement avec les jambes en gardant les deux pieds près du solAvancer en gardant peu d adhérence sur une surfaceMarcher longtemps dans la nature pour le plaisir ou l exerciceAvancer à pied à un rythme normal ou tranquilleSe déplacer sur des patins sur la glace ou sur un sol adaptéMonter avec effort sur quelque chose ou vers un endroit plus hautQuitter le sol d un coup avec les piedsBouger le corps en suivant la musique

Vocabulary of common physical activities

Word	Definition
courir	Move quickly with the legs while keeping both feet close to the ground.
marcher	Advance on foot at a normal or leisurely pace.
nager	Move through water using the arms and legs.
faire du vélo	Move on a bicycle.
danser	Move the body to the music.
sauter	Leave the ground with a sudden push of the feet.
grimper	Go up with effort to something or to a higher place.
glisser	Move forward while keeping little grip on a surface.
patiner	Move on blades on ice or on a suitable surface.
randonner	Move on ice skates on ice.

Scramble

to run, to walk, to swim, to cycle and to dance are activities very common for talking about sport and leisure. to run goes fast, often on a track, in a park or to catch a bus. to walk describes a gentler movement, over a short or long distance. to swim is done in the water, at a pool or at the sea. to cycle is used for transport as well as sport. to dance is done with music, alone or with other people. In outdoor activities, several of these verbs are also found with Sports de Plein Air.

poussertirertournerplierbaissersauterétendreavancerleversecouer

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Aller vers l avantAppliquer une force pour faire avancer ou éloigner quelque choseLever le corps d un coup en quittant le solMonter une partie du corps ou un objet vers le hautAllonger une partie du corps ou l ouvrir largementDescendre une partie du corps ou un objet vers le basBouger rapidement d un côté à l autreFaire pivoter le corps ou une partie du corpsRendre moins droit un membre ou une partie du corpsRamener quelque chose vers soi avec force

Vocabulary of simple body movements

Word	Definition
sauter	Raise the body off the ground in one go.
lever	Lift a part of the body or an object upward.
baisser	Lower a part of the body or an object downward.
tourner	Rotate the body or a part of the body.
pousser	Apply a force to move something forward or away.
tirer	Bring something toward oneself with force.
plier	Make a limb or part of the body less straight.
étendre	Lengthen a part of the body or open it wide.
secouer	Move quickly from side to side.
avancer	Move forward.

Scramble

For simple gestures, we often use to jump, to lift, to lower, to turn, to push and to pull. to jump makes you leave the ground for an instant. to lift raises an object or a part of the body. to lower means to go down. to turn changes direction or pivots an object. to push acts forward or outward, while to pull draws toward yourself. These verbs often appear in short instructions, especially oral and in the imperative.

s entraîners échaufferfaire des pompess étirerfaire des squatstranspirerrespirerse reposerrépéterrenforcer

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Arrêter l effort pour récupérer de l énergieAllonger doucement les muscles pour les assouplirFaire des exercices pour devenir meilleur dans une activitéFaire un exercice où l on plie les jambes puis on se relèveRefaire le même geste ou le même exercice plusieurs foisFaire un exercice où l on pousse le sol avec les brasFaire entrer et sortir l air des poumonsPréparer le corps avant un effort physiqueProduire de la sueur pendant un effort ou quand il fait chaudRendre plus fort avec de l entraînement régulier

Vocabulary of exercises and training

Word	Definition
s échauffer	Prepare the body before physical effort.
s étirer	Slowly lengthen muscles to loosen them.
faire des pompes	Do an exercise where you push the ground with your arms.
faire des squats	Do an exercise where you bend the legs and then stand up.
s entraîner	Do exercises to become better at a activity.
répéter	Do the same gesture or the same exercise several times.
respirer	Let air enter and leave the lungs.
se reposer	Stop the effort to recover energy.
transpirer	Produce sweat during effort or when hot.
renforcer	Make stronger with regular training.

Scramble

Before effort, we to warm up to prepare the body. We to stretch to lengthen the muscles and relax the body. to do push-ups mainly works the arms, the chest and the trunk. to do squats strengthens the legs and the glutes. In a training session, these actions often combine with repetitions and sets. We hear them in a gym, in a group class or in a home program. The verb is often in the present indicative when describing a routine, and in the imperative when giving instructions, as in Présent de l'indicatif and Impératif.

descendrevenirsuivrerevenirpartirentrermontersortirallertraverser

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Aller derrière quelqu un ou dans la même directionPasser à l intérieur d un lieuSe déplacer vers un niveau plus basVenir de nouveau à un endroit ou à un état précédentPasser de l intérieur vers l extérieurPasser d un côté à l autre d un espaceSe déplacer vers un lieu ou une directionSe déplacer pour rejoindre la personne qui parle ou le lieu indiquéSe déplacer vers un niveau plus hautQuitter un lieu pour aller ailleurs

Vocabulary of movement verbs

Word	Definition
aller	Move to a place or in a direction.
venir	Move to join the speaker or the indicated place.
monter	Move to a higher level.
descendre	Move to a lower level.
entrer	Move to the inside of a place.
sortir	Move from inside to outside.
revenir	Come back to a place or a previous state.
partir	Leave a place to go somewhere else.
suivre	Go behind someone or in the same direction.
traverser	Go from one side to the other of a space.

Scramble

to go indicates movement toward a place. to come shows movement toward the speaker or toward the place where they are. to go up goes upward, on stairs, in a bus or on a mountain. to go down goes downward. to enter means to go inside a place. to exit means to leave a place. With these verbs, meaning often depends on direction and the starting or arrival point. We use them as much in daily life as during a physical activity, when we change rooms, leave the field or climb stairs.

les chevillesla têteles mainsle dosles genouxles piedsles épaulesle ventreles brasles jambes

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Partie du corps située entre la poitrine et les jambesPartie du corps qui touche le sol pour se déplacerPartie du corps qui contient le cerveau et le visageArticulations du milieu des jambesPartie du corps qui sert beaucoup à marcher courir et sauterArticulations entre les jambes et les piedsPartie du corps qui aide à porter pousser et attraperPartie du corps au dessus des brasPartie du corps derrière le torsePartie du corps qui attrape tient et touche

Vocabulary of body parts in action

Word	Definition
les jambes	Body part used a lot for walking running and jumping.
les bras	Body part that helps to carry push and grab.
le dos	Part of the body behind the torso.
les genoux	Joints in the middle of the legs.
les épaules	Body part above the arms.
les pieds	Body part that touches the ground to move.
les mains	Body part that grabs holds and touches.
le ventre	Part of the body located between the chest and the legs.
la tête	Part of the body that contains the brain and the face.
les chevilles	Joints between the legs and the feet.

Scramble

During effort, certain parts of the body come back repeatedly. The legs are used to walk, run, jump and climb. The arms help to push, pull, carry and keep balance. The back works when we bend, lift or hold a position. The knees absorb movement in running, jumping and squats. The shoulders move when we raise the arms, throw or carry. In a sentence, we often link the body part to the action with a simple verb, like the legs move or the shoulders relax. To review body vocabulary, Parties du Corps remains the useful reference.

doucementrapidementcalmementsouplementrégulièrementénergiquementfortementlentementviteen rythme

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Avec peu de force ou de bruitAvec tranquillité et sans agitationAvec fluidité et sans raideurAvec beaucoup de force ou d énergieÀ faible vitesseÀ grande vitesseÀ intervalles constants ou avec une cadence stableEn peu de temps et avec vitesseAvec une cadence qui suit un tempo ou un mouvement constantAvec beaucoup de vigueur et d enthousiasme

Vocabulary of intensity and rhythm

Word	Definition
doucement	With little force or noise.
vite	At high speed.
lentement	At a slow pace.
fortement	With a lot of strength or energy.
régulièrement	At constant intervals or with a steady cadence.
rapidement	In a short time and with speed.
calmement	With calmness and without agitation.
en rythme	With a cadence that follows a steady tempo or movement.
souplement	With fluidity and without stiffness.
énergiquement	With a lot of vigor and enthusiasm.

Scramble

To describe how to move, we use gently, quickly, slowly, strongly and regularly. Gently asks for little force and little speed. Quickly indicates a fast pace. Slowly slows down the movement. Strongly shows more power or more effort. Regularly marks a stable action, with the same cadence. These words are often placed near the verb, as in to run quickly, to breathe slowly or to train regularly. They also help adjust the exercise according to level, fatigue or goal.

corde à sautercontinuechaussuresen lignerepose toitapisballonattentionhaltèresrespire

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Consigne pour prévenir d un danger ou demander de se concentrerCorde utilisée pour sauter rapidement et rythmiquementPoids tenus dans les mains pour renforcer les musclesConsigne pour demander d arrêter l effort et de récupérerSurface souple pour s asseoir s étirer ou faire des exercicesObjet rond que l on lance frappe ou fait roulerConsigne pour demander de se placer les uns derrière les autresConsigne pour dire de ne pas arrêter l actionVêtements pour les pieds qui servent à marcher courir ou faire du sportConsigne pour demander de faire entrer et sortir l air calmement

Vocabulary of equipment and instructions

Word	Definition
ballon	Round object that is thrown, hit, or rolled.
tapis	Soft surface for sitting, stretching, or doing exercises.
chaussures	Footwear for walking, running, or playing sports.
haltères	Weights held in hands to strengthen muscles.
corde à sauter	Rope used to jump quickly and rhythmically.
continue	Instruction to say not to stop the action.
repose toi	Instruction to ask to stop the effort and recover.
respire	Instruction to ask to bring in and let out the air calmly.
attention	Instruction to warn of danger or to ask to focus.
en ligne	Instruction to ask to stand one behind another.

Scramble

The most common sports equipment includes the ball, the mat, the shoes, the dumbbells and the jump rope. The ball is used to throw, strike or catch. The mat helps for floor exercises. The shoes protect and support the foot. The dumbbells add weight. The jump rope is used to work cardio and coordination. In the instructions, continue asks to keep the action going, rest asks to stop for a moment, and breathe asks to take a quiet breath. These words are often said during a workout, with clear gestures and direction.