éponger

== French == === Etymology === From éponge +‎ -er. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /e.pɔ̃.ʒe/ === Verb === éponger to sponge (clean with a sponge) to absorb ==== Conjugation ==== This is a regular -er verb, but the stem is written éponge- before endings that begin with -a- or -o- (to indicate that the -g- is a "soft" /ʒ/ and not a "hard" /ɡ/). This spelling change occurs in all verbs in -ger, such as neiger and manger. === Further reading === “éponger”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012