French word

frisson

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁisɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noungoosebumps

Example

En écoutant cette chanson, j'ai eu un frisson.

Listening to this song, I got goosebumps.

Illustration for frisson (goosebumps)

More examples

Le froid m'a fait éprouver un frisson.

The cold made me feel a shiver.

Core concept

A short wave of trembling across the skin, triggered by cold, alarm, or a powerful feeling.

Common phrases

  • provoquer un frisson

    cause a shiver

  • un frisson de plaisir

    a shiver of pleasure

  • éprouver un frisson

    feel a shiver

Similar words

chair de poule: Small raised bumps appearing on the skin.
tremblement: A slight shaking movement of the body or part of it.

Definition in French

Petit tremblement passager de la peau ou du corps qui provoque la chair de poule, lié au froid, à la peur ou à une émotion soudaine.

Word origin

The noun frisson comes from frissonner, and the older origin of this verb remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Common constructions include avoir un frisson for one shiver and donner des frissons for an experience that causes them.

Other meanings

  • shivernoun
  • thrillnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word