Gratter vs. racler
The French words 'gratter' and 'racler' both translate into English as 'to scrape off', with the aim of removing a substance or layer by scraping. However, they are used in slightly different contexts and have nuances that distinguish their usage.
Gratter
'Gratter' generally means to scrape or scratch lightly, and is often used when referring to surfaces or removing something superficial.
Il grattait la peinture séchée sur la table.
(He was scraping the dried paint off the table.)
Gratter la terre pour trouver des vers.
(Scratch the ground to find worms.)
Elle grattait un ticket de loterie avec une pièce de monnaie.
(She was scratching a lottery ticket with a coin.)
Racler
'Racler' implies a more vigorous, thorough scraping action, often used when dealing with a dense or tough surface.
Il a raclé le fromage pour le mettre sur la pizza.
(He scraped off the cheese to put it on the pizza.)
Racler le sol avec une spatule pour enlever la colle.
(Scrape the floor with a spatula to remove the glue.)
Elle a dû racler les restes brûlés au fond de la casserole.
(She had to scrape off the burnt remains at the bottom of the pan.)
Summary
'Gratter' and 'racler' both refer to scraping actions in French, but differ in their intensity and context of use. 'Gratter' is more of a light scratching or scraping action, suitable for surfaces or thin layers, whereas 'racler' is a stronger, more forceful scraping action, often required to remove dense or adherent materials.