French Conversation · Level 27
90 words
French word
assaut
Pronunciation
IPA/aso/
Meaning
- masculine nounattack
Example
Il y a eu un assaut près de la gare.
There was an attack near the station.
More examples
Ils ont lancé un assaut à l'aube.
They launched an assault at dawn.
Core concept
A tightly focused burst of force striking a defended point with speed and surprise.
Common phrases
lancer un assaut
launch an assault
donner l'assaut
launch an assault
un assaut surprise
a surprise attack
Similar words
attaque: An act of attacking a target with force or other means.
agression: A violent attack intended to harm another person.
Definition in French
Action d'attaquer avec force et rapidité; coup porté de façon concentrée et souvent soudaine pour surprendre ou briser une résistance.
Word origin
Old French assaut developed from Latin assultus, formed from ad-salire, "to jump at," for a movement that closes on a target aggressively.
Usage tips
- Assaut has a more formal and forceful register than the everyday verb attaquer, especially in reports about organized attacks.