French word

aspirer

Pronunciation

IPA/aspiʁe/

Meaning

  • verbaim

Example

Elle aspire à devenir médecin.

She aims to become a doctor.

Illustration for aspirer (aim)

More examples

Il aspire à la réussite depuis ses études.

He has aspired to success since his student days.

Core concept

Air or liquid drawn inward toward a point, extended metaphorically to a person reaching toward a desired goal.

Common phrases

  • aspirer à

    aspire to

  • aspirer à la réussite

    aspire to success

  • aspirer à un poste

    aspire to a position

Similar words

vouloir: To strongly want to do something or obtain something.
espérer: To hope that a particular event or state will occur.
souhaiter: To wish for something favorable to happen.
viser: To set a specific goal and work toward achieving it.

Definition in French

Chercher ardemment à atteindre ou obtenir quelque chose, souvent employé avec «aspirer à + infinitif» ; signifier aussi l'action physique de prendre de l'air ou d'aspirer un liquide.

Word origin

French aspirer comes from Latin aspirare, from ad- meaning 'toward' and spirare meaning 'breathe', with physical and figurative senses developing from this idea.

Usage tips

  • The construction aspirer à + infinitive expresses a goal or ambition, while aspirer + direct object expresses physical suction.

Other meanings

  • yearn forverb
  • inhaleverb
  • suck upverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word