French Conversation · Level 150
30 words
French word
confisquer
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃fiske/
Meaning
- verbtake away
Example
Les parents lui ont confisqué la console pour une semaine.
The parents took his game console away for a week.
More examples
Le professeur a décidé de confisquer le portable.
The teacher decided to confiscate the cell phone.
Core concept
An authority takes an object from its holder and keeps it out of reach under official control.
Common phrases
confisquer le portable
confiscate the cell phone
confisquer la console
confiscate the game console
confisquer un objet
confiscate an object
Similar words
prendre: Take something into one's possession.
saisir: Legally seize property or assets under authorized procedure.
enlever: Take an object out of a place.
retirer: Take off something worn or detach something installed.
Definition in French
Retirer à quelqu'un la possession d'un objet et le garder sous l'autorité compétente, empêchant toute utilisation de cet objet.
Word origin
French confisquer comes from medieval Latin confiscare, a legal verb for transferring property to the treasury, from Latin fiscus, meaning "treasury".
Usage tips
- Confisquer takes a direct object, while the person deprived is introduced by à, as in confisquer quelque chose à quelqu'un.