French word

endetter

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃dete/

Meaning

  • verbget into debt

Example

Beaucoup de jeunes s'endettent pour leurs études.

Many young people get into debt to pay for their studies.

Illustration for endetter (get into debt)

More examples

Après l'achat de la maison, ils se sont endettés pendant plusieurs années.

After buying the house, they went into debt for several years.

Core concept

A debt ledger being placed on a person's finances, leaving a lasting obligation to repay.

Common phrases

  • s'endetter pour ses études

    go into debt for one's studies

  • endetter quelqu'un

    put someone into debt

  • s'endetter auprès d'une banque

    go into debt with a bank

Similar words

s'endetter: To take on debt that must be repaid.
emprunter: To borrow money or an item for later repayment.
prêter: To give money or an item for later return.
devoir: To be obliged to repay money to someone.

Definition in French

Contracter une dette, devenir débiteur.

Word origin

Endetter is formed from the prefix en- and dette, with the verb ending -er; dette comes through Old French from Latin debitum.

Usage tips

  • The pronominal form s'endetter means to incur debt, while transitive endetter means to cause someone else to incur it.

Other meanings

  • put ___ in debtverb

Opposites

Related words

  • endettementindebtednessnoun
  • endettéin debtadjective
  • désendettementdebt reductionnoun

Word lists with this word