French word

frémir

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁemiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbtremble

Example

Elle frémit en voyant l'araignée.

She trembled when she saw the spider.

Illustration for frémir (tremble)

More examples

Il frémit de froid en sortant de la mer.

He shivered with cold as he came out of the sea.

Core concept

A body or voice briefly quivering in a small, involuntary shiver.

Common phrases

  • frémir de peur

    tremble with fear

  • frémir de froid

    shiver with cold

Similar words

trembler: The body or voice shakes from fear or nervousness.
frissonner: A momentary chill or shiver caused by cold or strong emotion.

Definition in French

Ressentir un léger tremblement involontaire du corps ou de la voix, généralement provoqué par le froid, la peur ou une émotion forte.

Word origin

French frémir comes through Old French from Latin fremere, meaning to roar, murmur, or vibrate, whose sense developed toward trembling.

Usage tips

  • Frémir commonly takes de before a cause, as in frémir de peur, frémir de froid, or frémir d'émotion.

Other meanings

  • shiververb
  • shudderverb

Opposites

  • se calmersettle downverb
  • se figerstiffen upverb

Related words

  • frémissementshuddernoun

Word lists with this word