French word

apaiser

Pronunciation

IPA/apeze/

Meaning

  • verbsoothe

Example

J'apaise le bébé qui pleure.

I soothe the crying baby.

Illustration for apaiser (soothe)

More examples

Elle essaie d'apaiser les tensions dans l'équipe.

She is trying to defuse tensions within the team.

Core concept

A steadying hand that turns crying, pain, or conflict into calm.

Common phrases

  • apaiser les tensions

    defuse tensions

  • apaiser la douleur

    ease the pain

Similar words

calmer: To bring an agitated or angry person into a calmer state.
rassurer: To relieve someone's worries and give them confidence.
consoler: To lessen someone's sorrow with kind words or supportive actions.

Definition in French

Apporter le calme à une personne ou atténuer une souffrance ou une tension.

Word origin

Apaiser comes from Old French apaisier, built with a- and pais, "peace," and ultimately related to Latin pax.

Usage tips

  • Apaiser takes a direct object, as in apaiser le bébé; s'apaiser means that the person or situation becomes calm.

Other meanings

  • easeverb
  • calmverb

Opposites

Related words

  • apaisementappeasementnoun
  • apaisantcalmingadjective
  • apaisésoothedadjective

Word lists with this word