Hydrophobic　flocculation　pretreatment　was　performed　to　assess　its　effect　on　the　recovery　of　fine　cuprite　in　sulfidation−flotation.　The　results　of　the　micro-flotation　experiment　showed　that　cuprite　recovery　is　related　to　the　particle　size,　and　that　an　excessive　content　of　fine　particles　(<18　μm)　impacted　the　recovery　of　coarse　particles.　When　hydrophobic　flocculation　pretreatment　was　used,　the　recovery　of　fine　cuprite　in　sulfidation−flotation　increased　from　60.3%　to　86.3%　under　optimum　conditions　(pH　9.5;　sodium　oleate　concentration,　2　×　10−4　mol·L−1;　stirring　time,　6　min;　stirring　speed,　1600　r·min−1).　The　laser　particle　size　analysis　and　optical　microscopy　results　indicate　that　hydrophobic　flocculation　pretreatment　effectively　reduces　the　content　of　fine　cuprite,　and　augments　the　apparent　particle　size　in　the　pulp.　We　performed　the　Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek　(DLVO)　theory　and　extended　DLVO　theory　calculations　to　further　support　the　interpretation　of　the　results.　©　2018,　University　of　Science　and　Technology　Beijing　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.