French word

fièvre

Pronunciation

IPA/fjɛvʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfever

Example

J'ai de la fièvre.

I have a fever.

Illustration for fièvre (fever)

More examples

La fièvre est tombée ce matin.

The fever went down this morning.

Core concept

A surge of heat runs through a body or spreads through a crowd, making people visibly stirred and less calm.

Common phrases

  • avoir de la fièvre

    have a fever

  • fièvre élevée

    high fever

Similar words

température: The numerical measurement of body heat or the body's temperature state.
frisson: A short bout of trembling caused by cold or surprise.
bouffée de chaleur: A sudden, brief wave of heat that flushes the face or neck.

Definition in French

Augmentation anormale de la température corporelle, souvent signe d'une infection; au sens figuré, agitation ou engouement collectif.

Word origin

French fièvre comes from Latin febris through Old French forms, first naming bodily fever and later extending metaphorically to collective excitement.

Usage tips

  • French normally expresses having a fever with avoir de la fièvre, as in "J'ai de la fièvre", rather than with a verb meaning be.

Other meanings

  • fervornoun

Opposites

Related words

  • fiévreuxfeverishadjective
  • fiévreusementfeverishlyadverb

Word lists with this word