Botter vs. donner un coup de pied

The French words 'botter' and 'donner un coup de pied' are used to describe the action of kicking. Despite their similar meanings, they are used in different contexts and nuances.

Botter

'Botter' is a verb that can have a more casual or general meaning.
Il aime botter le ballon dans le jardin.
(He likes to kick the ball around in the garden.)
Botter les pierres sur le chemin est un jeu pour lui.
(Kicking stones on the path is a game for him.)
Ce joueur sait vraiment bien botter le ballon.
(This player really knows how to kick the ball well.)

Donner un coup de pied

'Donner un coup de pied' is a phrase that describes the action of kicking with more emphasis on the motion and force involved. It can often imply intention or aggression.
Il a donné un coup de pied dans la porte par frustration.
(He kicked the door out of frustration.)
Le gardien a donné un grand coup de pied pour éloigner le ballon.
(The goalkeeper gave a big kick to send the ball away.)
Elle a donné un coup de pied à son agresseur pour se défendre.
(She kicked her attacker in self-defense.)

Summary

'Botter' and 'donner un coup de pied' both translate to 'to kick', but 'botter' is more casual and can refer to general kicking activities whereas 'donner un coup de pied' typically describes a more forceful action, often with intention or aggression.