French word

alcoolique

Pronunciation

IPA/alkolik/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)alcoholic

Example

C'est une alcoolique.

She is an alcoholic.

Illustration for alcoolique (alcoholic)

More examples

Il a aidé un alcoolique hier.

He helped an alcoholic yesterday.

Core concept

A life organized around alcohol, where physical or psychological dependence makes stopping and moderating difficult.

Common phrases

  • un alcoolique

    an alcoholic

  • aider un alcoolique

    help an alcoholic

Similar words

personne dépendante de l'alcool: A person with a strong dependence on alcohol who may require treatment.
buveur: Someone who usually drinks alcohol.
ivrogne: Someone who is frequently intoxicated.

Definition in French

Désigne une personne qui souffre d'une dépendance physique ou psychologique à l'alcool et qui perd le contrôle de sa consommation.

Word origin

The French noun alcoolique developed by substantivizing the adjective alcoolique, derived from alcool with -ique; alcool ultimately comes from Arabic al-kuḥl through Medieval Latin.

Usage tips

  • Alcoolique can sound stigmatizing in sensitive contexts, where personne dépendante de l'alcool is a more neutral expression.

Opposites

  • abstinentabstainernoun

Related words

  • alcoolismealcoholismnoun
  • alcooliséintoxicatedadjective

Word lists with this word