French word

entrouvrir

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃tʁuvʁiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbopen slightly

Example

Il a entrouvert la porte.

He opened the door slightly.

Illustration for entrouvrir (open slightly)

More examples

Le bébé a entrouvert la bouche.

The baby slightly opened its mouth.

Core concept

A closed door opened just enough to leave a narrow gap for a glimpse or a little air.

Common phrases

  • entrouvrir la bouche

    slightly open the mouth

  • entrouvrir la porte

    slightly open the door

Similar words

ouvrir: Open a door or window fully so the inside is clearly visible.
entrebâiller: Open a door or window just a crack, creating a narrow gap.

Definition in French

Ouvrir partiellement quelque chose qui était fermé, en laissant une petite ouverture, par exemple une porte ou une fenêtre.

Word origin

Entrouvrir combines French entre- with ouvrir, from Latin aperire, and denotes opening something only partway.

Usage tips

  • Entrouvrir follows the ouvrir pattern: its past participle is entrouvert, not a regular form such as entrouvri.

Opposites

Related words

  • entrouverthalf-openadjective

Word lists with this word