French word

caprice

Pronunciation

IPA/kapʁis/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwhim

Example

Il change souvent d'avis par caprice.

He often changes his mind on a whim.

Illustration for caprice (whim)

More examples

Elle a eu un caprice et a acheté la robe.

She had a whim and bought the dress.

Core concept

A passing whim that appears without a settled plan and can alter what happens next.

Common phrases

  • avoir un caprice

    have a whim

  • agir par caprice

    act on a whim

Similar words

envie: A passing wish for something or an urge to do something.
lubie: An unusual fancy or preoccupation that soon fades.
impulsion: A powerful urge to act that arises in a moment.
humeur: A changeable emotional state or mood.

Definition in French

Envie passagère et imprévue, ou décision née d'un moment d'inspiration plutôt que d'une réflexion durable.

Word origin

French borrowed caprice from Italian capriccio in the sixteenth century, when the word referred to sudden or fanciful movements before gaining its modern sense.

Usage tips

  • French also uses les caprices du temps for unpredictable changes in the weather, not only for human behavior.

Other meanings

  • impulsenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • capricieuxcapriciousadjective
  • capricieusementcapriciouslyadverb

Word lists with this word