French Conversation · Level 77
60 words
French word
chantage
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃɑ̃taʒ/
Meaning
- masculine nounblackmail
Example
Elle a signalé un chantage à la police.
She reported a case of blackmail to the police.
More examples
Il a subi un chantage après la fuite de ses photos.
He was blackmailed after his photos were leaked.
Core concept
A threat holding someone's secret or vulnerability over them until money or another advantage is handed over.
Common phrases
faire du chantage
to engage in blackmail
subir un chantage
to be blackmailed
porter plainte pour chantage
to file a complaint for blackmail
Similar words
chantage affectif: Using love, guilt, or similar feelings to pressure someone into doing something.
manipulation: Steering someone's decisions or emotions through deceitful plans or language.
pression: Applying verbal or situational pressure to make someone take action.
menace: Warning that harm will follow unless someone complies.
Definition in French
Action de contraindre quelqu'un à donner de l'argent ou un avantage en menaçant de révéler une information ou de causer un préjudice.
Word origin
Chantage is formed from chanter with the suffix -age, through faire chanter quelqu'un, a figurative expression for forcing someone to give in by threatening exposure or harm.
Usage tips
- Chantage is masculine, so the standard article is un, as in un chantage à l'argent.
Other meanings
- extortionnoun
Related words
- chantageurblackmailernoun