French word

approprier

Pronunciation

IPA/apʁopʁije/

Meaning

  • verbadapt

Example

Le professeur approprie son discours à son public.

The teacher adapts his talk to his audience.

Illustration for approprier (adapt)

More examples

Le maire a approprié l'ancienne gare à un usage culturel.

The mayor adapted the old station for cultural use.

Core concept

Shaping something so that it fits the purpose or audience it is meant for.

Common phrases

  • approprier son style au sujet

    adapt one's style to the subject

  • approprier les lois aux mœurs

    adapt laws to customs

  • approprier un local à son usage

    adapt a room to its use

Similar words

adapter: The common verb for changing something to fit a situation or purpose.
ajuster: To adjust details so that something fits exactly.

Definition in French

Rendre une chose propre à un usage ou à une destination; l'adapter à ce à quoi elle doit servir.

Word origin

The verb descends from Late Latin appropriāre, built from ad- 'toward' and proprius 'proper, one's own', which gave the sense of making something suitable for a use.

Usage tips

  • Approprier is a formal verb used in the pattern approprier A à B (adapt A to B); in everyday French, adapter is more common, and the pronominal s'approprier means 'to take for oneself'.

Related words

Word lists with this word