French word

approfondir

Pronunciation

IPA/apʁofɔ̃diʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdeepen

Example

Je veux approfondir mon français avant le voyage.

I want to deepen my knowledge of French before the trip.

Illustration for approfondir (deepen)

More examples

Nous devons approfondir ce sujet en réunion.

We need to delve deeper into this subject during the meeting.

Core concept

A path descending through layers of a subject until its deeper structure comes into view.

Common phrases

  • approfondir ses connaissances

    deepen one's knowledge

  • approfondir un sujet

    delve deeper into a subject

Similar words

apprendre: Acquire information or skills through learning.
comprendre: Grasp the meaning or workings of something.
se renseigner: Find out the information needed about something.

Definition in French

Rendre plus profond, au sens concret ou abstrait, en explorant ou en analysant davantage une idée, une question ou une pratique.

Word origin

Approfondir was formed in French from profond with the prefix a- and the verb ending -ir; profond ultimately comes from Latin profundus.

Usage tips

  • Approfondir takes a direct object, as in approfondir une question or approfondir mon français, rather than a preposition before the object.

Other meanings

  • delve into ___verb
  • investigateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • approfondissementdeepeningnoun
  • approfondithoroughly examinedadjective

Word lists with this word