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    avoir pied (to be able to touch the bottom)

    Grammar & Usage

    idiomatic verbal phrase
    neutral

    How it works

    Formed with the verb 'avoir' followed directly by the bare noun 'pied' without any article. It is used intransitively to indicate that one's feet can reach the bottom while keeping the head above water. Its negative and opposite expressions are 'ne pas avoir pied' and 'perdre pied'.

    Sample sentences

    Les enfants préfèrent nager dans le petit bassin parce qu'ils ont pied.

    The children prefer to swim in the shallow pool because they can touch the bottom.

    Fais attention, à partir de cette bouée tu n'auras plus pied.

    Be careful, past this buoy you won't be able to touch the bottom anymore.

    Je suis rassuré quand j'ai pied, car je ne suis pas un très bon nageur.

    I feel reassured when I can touch the bottom, because I am not a very good swimmer.

    Quick facts

    verb_pattern:Conjugates based on the irregular verb 'avoir' (j'ai pied, tu as pied, etc.)
    article_omission:The noun 'pied' is used without a determiner or article
    figurative_counterpart:'Perdre pied' extends to figurative usage (to lose control/be overwhelmed), whereas 'avoir pied' remains primarily literal

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    Les enfants préfèrent nager dans le petit bassin parce qu'ils ont pied.

    The children prefer to swim in the shallow pool because they can touch the bottom.

    Fais attention, à partir de cette bouée tu n'auras plus pied.

    Be careful, past this buoy you won't be able to touch the bottom anymore.

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