[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/gauche/)

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# gauche

adjective (gauche, more gauche); (French) gauche

«gauche» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) Awkward and clumsy in how you behave with other people, saying or doing slightly wrong things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#m1)
2. (French) «gauche» means «left» in French: à gauche = to the left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories «gauche» describes a shy or socially clumsy person, often a teenager at a party. In French lessons «tournez à gauche» means «turn left». Sound: «gohsh». Phrases: «a bit gauche», «à gauche» (French).

### Examples

- He felt gauche and shy at his first dance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#x1)
- It was a bit gauche to ask how much her dress cost. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#x2)
- In French, «gauche» means left and «droite» means right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#x3)
- Tournez à gauche! — Turn left! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#x4)
- Her gauche manners made people smile kindly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/#x5)

### Note

Borrowed from French. Pronounced «gohsh». Opposite in English: «graceful», «smooth». Do not confuse with «gouge» or «gaudy».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gauche» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gauche/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gauche» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gauche.html) on Mova free.