contourner

to get around, to circumvent, to bypass

k ɔ̃ . t u ʁ . n e
contourn go around + er Infinitive
verb Rare #29,600
to get around, to circumvent, to bypass Often used for avoiding an obstacle, rule, or person.
FR: On peut contourner le problème.
EN: We can get around the problem.
Conjugation of contourner
contourner
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First contourne —
Third contourne —
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
First contourne —
Third contourne —
Imperative
SingularPlural
Second contourne —

Faudrait que je trouve comment contourner mon père.

I need to figure out how to get around my father.

— Scream 7 (2026)

Il a essayé de contourner le sujet.

He tried to avoid the subject.

Il faut contourner la chose.

We need to work around it.

— No (2012)

La magie n'est qu'une tentative de l'esprit pour contourner l'impossible.

Magic is merely the mind’s attempt to circumvent the impossible.

— Wicked (2024)

Et toi, John, tu as réussi à contourner tous les autres corps.

And you, John, you managed to get around all the other bodies.

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Il faut une merveille de technologie pour contourner le problème.

It would take a technological marvel to get around the problem.

— Dune : Première partie (2021)

Il faut contourner la forêt de Malcombe.

We need to go around the Malcombe forest.

— Les Visiteurs (1993)

Il te faudra trouver une astuce pour contourner ce problème.

You’ll have to find a workaround for this problem.

Il y a une façon de le contourner.

There is a way around it.

Je connais votre talent pour contourner la loi.

I know how talented you are at circumventing the law.

— Le Frère 2 (2000)

Il vous faudra trouver une astuce pour contourner ce problème.

You’ll have to find a workaround for this problem.

Écoute, tu vas devoir contourner son corps.

Listen, you're going to have to get around his body.

— Scream 7 (2026)

Tellement bonne que pour y parvenir, il faut contourner nos propres lois ?

So good that to achieve it, we have to circumvent our own laws?

— Nuremberg (2025)