French Conversation · Level 99
60 words
French word
attentat
Pronunciation
IPA/atɑ̃ta/
Meaning
- masculine nounterrorist attack
Example
La police a arrêté un suspect après l'attentat.
The police arrested a suspect after the terrorist attack.
More examples
La ville est restée choquée après l'attentat.
The city remained shocked after the attack.
Core concept
A planned violent strike against people, institutions, or property, usually carrying a public political or symbolic message.
Common phrases
commettre un attentat
carry out a terrorist attack
un attentat à la bombe
bomb attack
un attentat suicide
suicide attack
Similar words
attaque: An act of attacking a person or thing with force or weapons.
agression: A violent physical attack directed at an individual.
assassinat: The deliberate killing of someone.
terrorisme: Violence used to spread fear in pursuit of political aims.
Definition in French
Acte violent et délibéré visant à blesser, tuer ou détruire des biens, souvent motivé par une intention politique ou symbolique.
Word origin
French attentat was borrowed from Italian attentato, from Latin attentatum, the neuter past participle of attentare, meaning to attempt.
Usage tips
- Attentat is masculine, so the usual article is un attentat, and its grave public register differs from the more general attaque or agression.