French Word · Intermediate
pis-aller
make-do, a less than optimal solution, workaround, stopgap
Pronunciation: /pi.z‿a.le/
Meaning
make-do, a less than optimal solution, workaround, stopgap
Example
Aussi ai-je toujours senti, chez les femmes qui m'ouvraient leurs organes, comme une légère réticence ; au fond je ne représentais guère, pour elles, qu'un pis-aller.
I also always sensed, in the women who would spread their legs for me, a slight reluctance; ultimately, to them I was just a last resort.
Practice tips
- Practice pis-aller out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this French word is for intermediate-level learners.