French Conversation · Level 123
59 words
French word
défaire
Pronunciation
IPA/defɛʁ/
Meaning
- verbuntie
Example
J'ai défait mes lacets avant d'entrer.
I untied my shoelaces before going in.
More examples
Elle a défait le bouton de sa chemise.
She unfastened the button on her shirt.
Core concept
Hands reversing a completed tying so that a knot or other fastening opens.
Common phrases
défaire un bouton
unfasten a button
défaire un paquet
unwrap a parcel
Similar words
dénouer: To undo a knot or tangle and return it to its former state.
détacher: To detach an item by undoing its fastener or cord.
ouvrir: To open a container so that its contents can be taken out.
battre: To beat an opponent in a game or contest.
Definition in French
Retirer ou dénouer ce qui retient quelque chose, par exemple des lacets ou un nœud.
Word origin
The verb developed from Old French desfaire, meaning to undo or reverse what was done, from des- and faire, whose Latin source is facere.
Usage tips
- Défaire is irregular in the present tense: je défais but ils défont, while the past participle is défait.