ils serrent

squeeze, press tightly, shake (hands), stick together, support one another

s ɛ ʁ → serrer
serr to squeeze, to grip tightly + ent 3rd-person plural present ending
verb · 3rd-person plural, present tense Rare #44,719
squeeze, press tightly
FR: Ils serrent le sac contre eux.
EN: They hold the bag tightly against themselves.
shake (hands)
FR: Ils serrent la main de leur nouvel ami.
EN: They shake their new friend's hand.
stick together, support one another Used in the expression « se serrer les coudes ».
FR: Dans les moments difficiles, ils se serrent les coudes.
EN: In difficult times, they support one another.
Conjugation of serrer
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First serre serrons
Second serres serrez
Third serre serrent
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
First serre —
Second serres —
Third serre serrent

Ils se serrent la main.

They shake hands.

Hayes et Pearce se serrent les coudes.

Hayes and Pearce are sticking together.

— F1® Le Film (2025)

"Ils vous serrent et vous avez l'occasion unique d'entendre "vos os se briser.

They squeeze you, and you get the unique opportunity to hear your bones break.

— Anaconda (2025)

Les étrangers se serrent la main.

The foreigners shake hands.

— Il était une fois en Chine (1991)

Les Anglais serrent la main pour dire bonjour.

The English shake hands to say hello.

Les Sully se serrent les coudes.

The Sullys are sticking together.

— Avatar : La Voie de l'eau (2022)

Ces chaussures me serrent trop.

These shoes are too tight on me.

Sounds similar to