French Phrase
Cherche le bouton d'arrêt ou le cordon.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to look for the stop button or the cord, typically when they need to turn off or disconnect a device. It’s a direct, informal command that assumes the listener knows which device is being discussed.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving quick, practical instructions—e.g., in a workshop, while helping a friend with a coffee machine, or when explaining how to power down a piece of equipment. It’s best suited for informal contexts; in a formal setting you’d soften it with ‘Veuillez chercher…’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chercheleboutond'arrêtoulecordon.
Imperative (2nd pers. sing.)
‘Cherche’ is the affirmative imperative of the verb *chercher* used when giving a direct command to ‘you’ (tu).
Definite article
‘le’ marks a specific masculine noun (bouton, cordon) that the listener should locate.
Contraction ‘d’ + vowel
‘d’arrêt’ is a contraction of *de arrêt*; the apostrophe replaces the vowel to keep the flow smooth.
Coordinating conjunction ‘ou’
‘ou’ means ‘or’ and links two possible objects of the search.
Punctuation
The period ends the command; in spoken French the tone rises slightly at ‘ou’ and falls at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Le mixeur ne s'arrête pas, il continue de tourner.
The blender won’t stop, it keeps running.
Cherche le bouton d'arrêt ou le cordon.
Look for the stop button or the cord.
✕Common Mistakes
Chercher le bouton d'arrêt ou le cordon.
Using the infinitive *chercher* makes it a statement, not a command.
le bouton d arret
Missing the apostrophe and accent; it should be *d'arrêt*.
Cherche le bouton d'arrêt ou bien le cordon.
‘ou bien’ is acceptable but adds unnecessary formality in a short command.
↔Alternatives
Trouve le bouton d'arrêt ou le cordon.
Find the stop button or the cord.
Localise le bouton d'arrêt ou le cordon.
Locate the stop button or the cord.
Cherche le bouton d'arrêt, sinon le cordon.
Look for the stop button, otherwise the cord.
Cultural Tip
In French, the imperative can sound abrupt if used with strangers. Adding ‘s’il te plaît’ (informal) or ‘s’il vous plaît’ (formal) makes it polite: *Cherche le bouton d'arrêt, s’il te plaît.* Also, French speakers often prefer the noun *cordon d’alimentation* for ‘power cord’, but ‘cordon’ alone is understood in everyday speech.