French Conversation · Level 49
75 words
French word
effrayer
Pronunciation
IPA/efʁɛje/
Meaning
- verbscare
Example
Ça va l'effrayer.
That will scare him.
More examples
Ne fais pas ça, tu vas effrayer le bébé.
Don't do that, you'll frighten the baby.
Core concept
A sudden sound, movement, or threat makes someone feel fear at once.
Common phrases
effrayer quelqu'un
frighten someone
s'effrayer facilement
be easily frightened
Similar words
faire peur: To scare someone through a light prank or dramatic display.
inquiéter: To make someone worried or anxious about an uncertain situation.
terrifier: To fill someone with overwhelming fear.
affoler: To drive someone toward panic through fear and confusion.
Definition in French
Faire éprouver de la peur à quelqu'un, souvent de façon brusque.
Word origin
Effrayer comes from Old French esfreer, later effrayer, and is related to the noun frayeur for fear or fright.
Usage tips
- Effrayer takes the frightened person as a direct object, as in effrayer quelqu'un, not with the preposition a.