French Conversation · Level 30
89 words
French word
forcer
Pronunciation
IPA/fɔʁse/
Meaning
- verbforce
Example
Ils forcent les enfants à étudier.
They force the children to study.
More examples
Ne me force pas à mentir.
Don't force me to lie.
Core concept
Pressure, threat, or physical strength pushes someone into an action they did not freely choose.
Common phrases
forcer quelqu'un à
force someone to ___
se forcer à
force oneself to ___
forcer la porte
force the door open
Similar words
obliger: To put someone under an obligation to do something.
imposer: To press one's ideas or conditions onto someone.
pousser: To urge someone toward a particular course through circumstances or words.
contraindre: To compel someone to act through force or legal authority.
Definition in French
Obliger quelqu'un à faire quelque chose sous la contrainte, par la force, la menace ou la pression sociale.
Word origin
Forcer is formed from the noun force, which came through Old French from Latin fortis, meaning strong.
Usage tips
- Forcer often sounds stronger than English 'make' because it suggests coercion, so demander or encourager fits a non-coercive context better.