French word

effacer

Pronunciation

IPA/efase/

Meaning

  • verberase

Example

Il a effacé son erreur au tableau.

He erased his mistake on the board.

Illustration for effacer (erase)

More examples

J'ai effacé un fichier par erreur.

I deleted a file by mistake.

Core concept

Writing fades from a board under an eraser, while an event can similarly fade from the mind.

Common phrases

  • effacer une erreur

    erase an error

  • effacer le tableau

    erase the blackboard

  • effacer un fichier

    delete a file

Similar words

gommer: To rub out writing or lines with an eraser.
rayer: To cross out writing or a line, making it difficult to read.
annuler: To cancel a recent action or a scheduled event.
supprimer: To permanently delete a file or data.

Definition in French

Rendre invisible ou enlever une marque, un texte ou une trace, soit concrètement (effacer une écriture), soit au sens figuré (faire disparaître un souvenir).

Word origin

The verb developed from Old French esfacier, built from ex- and face, a form related to Latin facies, meaning an outward appearance.

Usage tips

  • In digital contexts, effacer commonly means clear or erase, while supprimer more often presents an item as deleted rather than merely cleared.

Other meanings

  • deleteverb
  • wipe outverb

Opposites

Related words

  • effacementerasurenoun
  • effaçableerasableadjective
  • effacéerasedadjective

Word lists with this word