French Conversation · Level 30
89 words
French word
désoler
Pronunciation
IPA/dezole/
Meaning
- verbupset
Example
Ça me désole.
It upsets me.
More examples
Il se désole de son échec.
He laments his failure.
Core concept
A setback drains someone's hope and leaves them deeply saddened or discouraged.
Common phrases
me désole
upsets me
se désoler de
lament
Similar words
décevoir: To let someone down by failing to meet their expectations.
peiner: To sadden someone and cause emotional pain.
blesser: To hurt someone's feelings and cause distress.
embêter: To annoy someone or cause them inconvenience.
Definition in French
Faire éprouver de la peine, parfois du découragement, à quelqu'un.
Word origin
The Latin verb dēsolāre meant to make desolate or abandon, and French désoler retained this image while developing its modern emotional sense.
Usage tips
- Désoler often expresses sincere, strong regret or distress, whereas embêter and ennuyer commonly describe milder annoyance or bother.