French word

fiancer

Pronunciation

IPA/fjɑ̃se/

Meaning

  • verbget engaged

Example

Ils se sont fiancés hier.

They got engaged yesterday.

Illustration for fiancer (get engaged)

More examples

Les parents ont fiancé leur fille à un ami.

The parents engaged their daughter to a friend.

Core concept

A clear marriage pledge binds two people, either when one person betroths another or when both enter the engagement.

Common phrases

  • se fiancer avec quelqu'un

    get engaged to someone

  • fiancer quelqu'un

    engage someone to someone

Similar words

se fiancer: To become engaged to someone after agreeing to marry.
demander en mariage: To formally propose marriage to someone.
se marier: To enter a legal marriage through a ceremony or official procedure.

Definition in French

Engager quelqu'un au mariage en lui faisant la promesse de l'épouser (fiancer) ; au réfléchi se fiancer indique qu'on a reçu ou pris cet engagement.

Word origin

Fiancer comes from Old French fiancier, related to fiance, a pledge or promise, and ultimately to Latin fides, meaning trust or faith.

Usage tips

  • In the passé composé, se fiancer takes être, and the past participle agrees with the subject: Ils se sont fiancés and Elles se sont fiancées.

Other meanings

  • betrothverb

Opposites

  • romprebreak off an engagementverb

Related words

Word lists with this word