French Conversation · Level 142
30 words
French word
confiner
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃fine/
Meaning
- verbshut in
Example
Pendant l'épidémie, on a confiné beaucoup de gens.
During the epidemic, many people were shut in.
More examples
Le vétérinaire a confiné l'animal malade pour le soigner.
The veterinarian isolated the sick animal in order to treat it.
Core concept
Someone or something held inside a defined space instead of moving freely across a wider area.
Common phrases
confiner un malade
isolate a patient
confiner un animal dans un enclos
confine an animal to an enclosure
Similar words
isoler: To separate someone from others so contact and movement become impossible.
enfermer: To shut someone inside a building or room, making it impossible to go out.
limiter: To restrict an amount or range so it does not exceed a set point.
contenir: To hold back a spread or effect so it does not extend beyond its limits.
Definition in French
Maintenir une personne ou un objet à l'intérieur d'un espace pour limiter sa liberté d'action ou de mouvement.
Word origin
French confiner is an inherited formation from Latin confinare, which combines con- with finis, 'boundary'.
Usage tips
- The reflexive form se confiner means to remain within a restricted place, rather than to restrict another person or object.
Other meanings
- isolateverb
- containverb
Related words
- confinementconfinementnoun
- confinéconfinedadjective
- déconfinementrelease from confinementnoun