French Conversation · Level 109
60 words
French word
exprès
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛkspʁɛ/
Meaning
- adverbon purpose
Example
Je l'ai fait exprès.
I did it on purpose.
More examples
Elle fait exprès de rire pour détendre l'atmosphère.
She deliberately laughs to lighten the atmosphere.
Core concept
An action carried out by choice, with chance ruled out.
Common phrases
faire exprès de
do ___ on purpose
dire exprès
say deliberately
agir exprès
act deliberately
Similar words
volontairement: Done willingly and with conscious intent.
délibérablement: Done after careful consideration and deliberate choice.
intentionnellement: Done with a clear aim in mind.
Definition in French
S'emploie pour indiquer qu'une action a été commise intentionnellement.
Word origin
Exprès comes through Old French from Latin expressus, meaning made clear or explicit, and developed an intentional-action sense.
Usage tips
- With an infinitive, exprès normally appears in the pattern faire exprès de faire quelque chose.
Opposites
- accidentellementaccidentallyadverb
- fortuitementfortuitouslyadverb
Related words
- expressémentintentionallyadverb
- expressexpressadjective