French word

émanciper

Pronunciation

IPA/emɑ̃sipe/

Meaning

  • verbbecome independent

Example

Elle veut s'émanciper de sa famille.

She wants to become independent of her family.

Illustration for émanciper (become independent)

More examples

Après la formation, elle a pu s'émanciper financièrement.

After the training, she was able to become financially independent.

Core concept

A bond of dependence loosening until a person or group can act on its own.

Common phrases

  • s'émanciper financièrement

    become financially independent

  • s'émanciper socialement

    become socially independent

Similar words

s'autonomiser: Learn to decide and act without depending on others.
se responsabiliser: Take responsibility for personal choices and behavior.
se débrouiller: Find solutions to difficulties without outside help.

Definition in French

Signifie devenir autonome, se libérer d'une autorité, d'une dépendance ou d'un lien familial, et qui se rencontre souvent sous la forme pronominale s'émanciper.

Word origin

The Latin root combines ex-, meaning 'out', with mancipare, meaning 'transfer by hand', giving the historical sense of release from another's control.

Usage tips

  • Without the reflexive pronoun, émanciper is transitive and often sounds formal, especially when it means granting independence.

Other meanings

  • emancipateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word