French word

émerveiller

Pronunciation

IPA/emɛʁveje/

Meaning

  • verbamaze

Example

Les feux d'artifice émerveillent les enfants.

The fireworks amaze the children.

Illustration for émerveiller (amaze)

More examples

Son sourire a émerveillé tout le monde.

His smile amazed everyone.

Core concept

Something extraordinary makes a person pause, stare, and admire it.

Common phrases

  • émerveiller quelqu'un

    amaze someone

  • émerveiller le public

    amaze the audience

  • émerveiller par sa beauté

    amaze with its beauty

Similar words

étonner: To cause intense surprise through an unexpected fact or event.
surprendre: To surprise someone with an unforeseen event.
impressionner: To make a strong impression through remarkable ability or scale.
fasciner: To captivate someone with compelling interest or charm.

Definition in French

Rendre quelqu'un admiratif et étonné devant quelque chose.

Word origin

The verb was formed in Old French from merveille, meaning wonder, in the form esmerveillier, and developed into modern émerveiller.

Usage tips

  • The reflexive form s'émerveiller means to feel wonder oneself and commonly takes devant or de for what causes that feeling.

Other meanings

  • aweverb
  • fascinateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word