French word

confesser

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃fese/

Meaning

  • verbconfess

Example

Il a confessé ses sentiments hier soir.

He confessed his feelings last night.

Illustration for confesser (confess)

More examples

Elle a fini par confesser la vérité.

She eventually confessed the truth.

Core concept

An inner truth placed openly before another person, whether it is a wrongdoing, a secret, or a deeply held feeling.

Common phrases

  • confesser ses sentiments

    confess one's feelings

  • se confesser à quelqu'un

    confide in someone

  • confesser quelque chose à quelqu'un

    confess something to someone

Similar words

avouer: To admit and state a crime, hidden fact, or feeling.
dire: To state something in words and communicate it.
révéler: To disclose a hidden fact or piece of information.
admettre: To acknowledge and accept a fact or fault.

Definition in French

Admettre ou révéler à quelqu'un une faute, un secret ou un sentiment; la forme réflexive « se confesser » renvoie souvent à la confession religieuse.

Word origin

French confesser is inherited through Old French from Latin confiteri, formed with con- and a form related to fateri 'to acknowledge'.

Usage tips

  • Confesser ses sentiments is grammatical, but avouer ses sentiments is often more idiomatic in everyday speech for a romantic revelation.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word