En vrac

Useful French Expression

En vrac
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Meaning (in) bulk; jumbled together, disorderly, randomly
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Pronunciation French sound files [ah(n) vrahk]
IPA   [ã vrak]

Usage notes: The French word vrac refers to any sort of product – edible or inedible – that isn’t packaged in the traditional manner. It’s mainly used in the adverbial expression en vrac.

Par exemple…

Je préfère acheter les pois chiches en vrac.   I prefer buying unpackaged chickpeas / chickpeas in bulk / bulk chickpeas.
Le vin en vrac est souvent imbuvable.   Bulk wine (e.g., box wine) is often undrinkable.

En vrac can also refer to any group of items jumbled together.

Par exemple…

Ne mets pas tout en vrac dans les cartons.   Don’t jumble everything into the boxes.
Il y a un tas de jouets en vrac dans la malle.   There’s a jumble of toys in the trunk.

And it can be used figuratively for intangibles like ideas.

Par exemple…

D’abord, il faut jeter en vrac des idées sur le papier.   First, you have to get some ideas down on paper.
Pourquoi doit-elle toujours citer en vrac les philosophes ?   Why does she always have to randomly quote philosophers?

Expressions

  • acheter en vrac – to buy in bulk, as a job lot
  • tomber en vrac – to tumble out
  • vendre en vrac – to sell in bulk, as a job lot

Related terms

  • la cargaison en vrac – bulk cargo
  • les marchandises en vrac – bulk cargo
  • le présentoir d’articles en vrac – dump bin / display
  • le transport en vrac – bulk transport
  • le transporteur en vrac – bulk carrier
  • le vraquier – bulk carrier

 Related lessons

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Acheter en vrac

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