Yap.Town

ménager

to spare, to handle carefully, to be considerate (of)

m e . n a . ʒ e
ménag housework, household chores + er Infinitive
verb Rare #35,246
to spare Often used with forces/efforts (e.g., « ménager ses forces » = not exhaust yourself).
FR: Il faut ménager ses forces avant la course.
EN: You have to spare your strength before the race.
to handle carefully, to be considerate (of) Can mean treating someone gently/with care (physically or emotionally).
FR: Il faut le ménager un peu : il est fatigué.
EN: You have to go easy on him: he’s tired.
Conjugation of ménager
ménager
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First ménage —
Third ménage —
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
First ménage —
Third ménage —
Imperative
SingularPlural
Second ménage —

Tu as voulu me ménager ?

Did you want to spare my feelings?

— Salyut-7 (2017)

Pas la peine de ménager notre foi ou que sais-je.

There's no need to compromise our faith or anything like that.

— Wake Up Dead Man : Une histoire à couteaux tirés (2025)

Inutile de me ménager.

No need to go easy on me.

Je voudrais préserver son image et ménager Daniel.

I would like to preserve his image and be considerate of Daniel.

— Anatomie d'une chute (2023)

Tu dois te ménager.

You have to take care of yourself.

C'est plus le moment de se ménager.

Now is not the time to take it easy.

— Guerre et Paix (1968)

Tu sais bien qu'il faut la ménager.

You know very well that you need to take it easy on her.

— Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

Sounds similar to

messager m e . s a . ʒ e