French Conversation · Level 127
45 words
French word
camoufler
Pronunciation
IPA/kamufle/
Meaning
- verbhide
Example
Elle a camouflé le paquet sous une pile de vêtements.
She hid the package under a pile of clothes.
More examples
Elle a camouflé la douleur par un sourire.
She hid the pain with a smile.
Core concept
Something made visually or contextually inconspicuous so that attention passes over it.
Common phrases
camoufler la douleur
hide the pain
camoufler un défaut
hide a flaw
camoufler son visage
hide one's face
Similar words
cacher: Keep something out of sight so it cannot be found.
dissimuler: Keep facts or information from being revealed or known.
Definition in French
Dissimuler, au sens propre ou figuré, quelque chose (personne, objet, information) en altérant son aspect ou son contexte pour le rendre peu visible ou reconnaissable.
Word origin
French formed camoufler from camouflage, a nineteenth-century borrowing ultimately related to Italian camuffare; the further etymology is not certain.
Usage tips
- Camoufler applies figuratively to information, figures, or facts as well as physically hidden objects.
Other meanings
- disguiseverb
- concealverb
- camouflageverb
Related words
- camouflagecamouflagenoun
- camouflécamouflagedadjective