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Se Débrouiller: To Get By, To Manage

Se Débrouiller: To Get By, To Manage

Within the first few days of a trip to France, you’ll most likely hear the reflexive verb se débrouiller. Translations of this verb include both “to get by” and “to manage”, and it’s often used in the context of getting by in languages. This post will explain precisely how to use se débrouiller.

se débrouiller

to get by, manage

Se Débrouiller: To Get By, To Manage

In the non-reflexive from, débrouiller means both “to untangle”. However, for this post we’re interested in the verb in the reflexive form.

Here’s how to conjugate se débrouiller in the present tense:

Je me débrouille I get by, manage
Tu te débrouilles You get buy, manage (singular, familiar)
Il/elle/on se débrouille He/she/one gets by, manages
Nous nous débrouillons We get by, mange
Vous vous débrouillez You get by, manage (plural, formal)
Ils/elles se débrouillent They get by

Example sentences with se débrouiller

The most common usage of se débrouiller that you’re most likely to hear on a trip to France is in the context of getting by in lanauges. For example:

Thomas se débrouille très bien en français.

Thomas gets by very in French.

Here’s another similar example:

Je ne parle pas couramment, mais je me débrouille plus ou moins.

I don’t speak fluently, but I get by more or less.

Another common usage of se débrouiller is in the context of “to figure it out” or “to manage”. For example:

Si tu as un problème, débrouille-toi tout seul !

If you have a problem, figure it out yourself!

Another fun usage is the informal expression système D, which is basically short for “système débrouiller” or “system figure it your yourself”.

Personne ne m’aide. Alors, c’est système D cette fois !

Nobody is helping me. So, I’ll gave to figure it out myself this time!

Conclusion

Et voilà ! You now know how to use the super useful verb, se débrouiller. Now check out our lesson covering another useful reflexive verb, se tromper (to mistaken, to get wrong).

Word of the Day lessons

Lessons by David Issokson

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David Issokson
David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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