French Conversation · Level 179
15 words
French word
empester
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃pɛste/
Meaning
- verbstink up
Example
La poubelle empeste la maison.
The trash can stinks up the house.
More examples
La cuisine empeste après avoir fait frire du poisson.
The kitchen reeks after frying fish.
Core concept
A stench pouring from something dirty and taking over an entire room or area.
Common phrases
empester la cuisine
make the kitchen stink
empester la maison
make the house smell bad
empester l'air
make the air smell bad
Similar words
puer: Give off a very unpleasant smell.
dégager: Release odors or smoke into the surrounding air.
Definition in French
Dégager ou remplir un lieu d'une odeur très nauséabonde.
Word origin
The verb empester combines en- with peste, a word linked to Latin pestis, and develops the sense of filling a place with a foul smell.
Usage tips
- Empester can take the affected place as a direct object, as in 'La poubelle empeste la maison', without a preposition before the place.
Other meanings
- stinkverb
Opposites
- embaumersmell fragrantverb
- parfumerscentverb