French word

décontracter

Pronunciation

IPA/dekɔ̃tʁakte/

Meaning

  • verbrelax

Example

Un bon massage peut décontracter les muscles.

A good massage can relax the muscles.

Illustration for décontracter (relax)

More examples

Une blague peut décontracter l'atmosphère pendant la réunion.

A joke can ease the atmosphere during the meeting.

Core concept

Tight muscle fibers release their tension and return to a supple state during massage.

Common phrases

  • décontracter un muscle

    relax a muscle

  • décontracter l'atmosphère

    ease the atmosphere

Similar words

détendre: To loosen muscle or bodily tension and make movement easier.
relâcher: To release tension from a tight part and make it looser.
relaxer: To relieve mental or physical tension and allow rest.

Definition in French

Signifie rendre moins contracté un muscle ou une zone du corps; peut désigner l'action d'un praticien qui assouplit un muscle.

Word origin

French formed décontracter from dé- and contracter, a verb inherited through French from Latin contrahere, meaning to draw together or contract.

Usage tips

  • The pronominal form se décontracter describes the subject becoming relaxed, while décontracter les muscles has an external agent and object.

Other meanings

  • loosenverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word