French word

affront

Pronunciation

IPA/afʁɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nouninsult

Example

Ne lui fais pas d'affront, il est sensible.

Don't insult him; he's sensitive.

Illustration for affront (insult)

More examples

Il a fait un affront à son collègue en public.

He insulted his colleague in public.

Core concept

A social blow delivered to a person's pride, making the target feel publicly disrespected.

Common phrases

  • faire un affront à quelqu'un

    insult ___

  • subir un affront

    suffer an insult

Similar words

insulte: Abusive words or behavior directed at and intended to hurt someone.
offense: Words, actions, or treatment that hurt someone's feelings and cause offense.

Definition in French

Parole ou geste destiné à offenser quelqu'un et à porter atteinte à son honneur ou à son respect.

Word origin

The French noun was inherited from Old French afront, ultimately from Latin affrontare, meaning 'to confront', and related to ad 'toward' and frons 'face'.

Usage tips

  • The phrase faire affront à quelqu'un is formal and takes à before the person affected.

Other meanings

  • offensenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word