French Conversation · Level 52
75 words
French word
accorder
Pronunciation
IPA/akɔʁde/
Meaning
- verballow
Example
Le directeur m'accorde la permission d'entrer.
The director allows me to enter.
More examples
Il accorde beaucoup d'importance à sa famille.
He attaches a great deal of importance to his family.
Core concept
Two sides move into agreement, and one side extends that settled decision as a permission or favor.
Common phrases
accorder une autorisation
grant authorization
accorder sa confiance
place one's trust in
accorder de l'importance à
attach significance to
Similar words
permettre: Allowing something to happen or be done.
autoriser: Officially authorizing an action or decision.
laisser: Leaving someone free to act without interference.
donner: Giving someone permission or a right to do something.
Definition in French
Mettre d'accord ou concilier et, par extension courante, accorder à quelqu'un une permission ou un avantage.
Word origin
French accorder comes through Old French acorder from Latin accordare, built on ad- 'to' and cor, cordis 'heart', with later senses of granting and musical tuning.
Usage tips
- When a thing is granted to a person, the usual pattern is accorder quelque chose à quelqu'un, with à rather than de before the recipient.