French Conversation · Level 163
30 words
French word
épater
Pronunciation
IPA/epate/
Meaning
- verbimpress
Example
Il veut épater ses amis.
He wants to impress his friends.
More examples
Son but est d'épater le public.
His goal is to astonish the audience.
Core concept
An unexpected act creates a strong impression that leaves observers amazed or admiring.
Common phrases
épater le public
astonish the audience
épater tout le monde
astonish everyone
Similar words
étonner: To amaze people through something unexpected or unusual.
surprendre: To startle people with an unforeseen event.
impressionner: To impress people through striking actions or qualities.
choquer: To shock or offend people by violating social norms.
Definition in French
Faire ressentir à quelqu'un une forte surprise ou admiration par une action, une parole ou une attitude inattendue.
Word origin
The modern verb épater is inherited from Old French espater, and its meaning developed toward causing a striking reaction in another person.
Usage tips
- In épater la galerie, la galerie means the watching crowd, and the phrase often describes showy behavior rather than bare surprise.