French Conversation · Level 104
60 words
French word
étrangler
Pronunciation
IPA/etʁɑ̃gle/
Meaning
- verbstrangle
Example
La police croit qu'il a essayé d'étrangler la victime.
The police believe that he tried to strangle the victim.
More examples
La hausse des prix étrangle le pouvoir d'achat des ménages.
The rise in prices is strangling households' purchasing power.
Core concept
A closing band around the throat blocks breathing, with the same image extending to pressure that stifles progress.
Common phrases
étrangler quelqu'un
strangle someone
étrangler le pouvoir d'achat
strangle purchasing power
Similar words
étouffer: To stop someone breathing by covering or blocking their mouth or nose.
suffoquer: To become unable to breathe and suffer severe difficulty breathing.
asphyxier: To stop someone breathing by cutting off their air or oxygen supply.
tuer: To take a person's or animal's life.
Definition in French
Priver quelqu'un d'air en serrant la gorge, et par extension exercer une pression qui étouffe.
Word origin
The French verb étrangler derives from Old French estrangler, borrowed from Latin strangulare for the act of strangling.
Usage tips
- Étrangler is a strongly violent word, so its literal use in ordinary conversation can sound alarming rather than casual.
Other meanings
- chokeverb
Related words
- étranglementstrangulationnoun
- étrangléstrangledadjective
- étrangleurstranglernoun