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s'accrocher
/sa.kʁo.ʃe/
to hang on
Il faut s'accrocher pour réussir.
You have to hang on to succeed.
informal
To hold on tightly to something, often to avoid falling or to persist in a difficult situation.
Le grimpeur s'accroche à la paroi rocheuse.
The climber hangs on to the rock face.
Elle s'est accrochée à son rêve malgré les obstacles.
She hung on to her dream despite the obstacles.
Commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
Engineering
technical
To attach or fasten something securely.
Accrochez le câble à ce crochet.
Attach the cable to this hook.
Used in technical or mechanical contexts.
psychology
To cling emotionally to someone or something.
Il s'accroche à ses souvenirs d'enfance.
He clings to his childhood memories.
Often used in psychological or emotional contexts.
Collocations
s'accrocher à qqchto hang on to somethings'accrocher à qqnto cling to someones'accrocher en équipeto stick together as a team
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'accrocher' without the reflexive pronoun 'se' when the subject is performing the action on themselves (e.g., 'Il s'accroche à la branche' instead of 'Il accroche à la branche').
Gold Rule
Reflexive Verb Usage
Always use 'se' with 'accrocher' when the action is performed by the subject on themselves (e.g., 'Je m'accroche à l'espoir').
Word Origin
From Old French 'acrochier' (to hang up), derived from 'à' (to) + 'croche' (hook). The reflexive form 's'accrocher' emerged in the 17th century, emphasizing the action directed back at oneself.
Usage Notes
The reflexive form 's'accrocher' is always used with a pronominal verb (se). It can be literal (physical attachment) or figurative (emotional or mental persistence).
Word Breakdown
s'
reflexive pronoun (oneself)
prefixaccrocher
to hang or attach
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais