French word

frissonner

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁisone/

Meaning

  • verbshiver

Example

Je frissonne de froid.

I am shivering from the cold.

Illustration for frissonner (shiver)

More examples

Elle frissonne en écoutant cette histoire.

She shivers while listening to this story.

Core concept

A brief ripple of involuntary shaking passes through the body or skin when cold, fear, or sudden emotion strikes.

Common phrases

  • frissonner de froid

    shiver from the cold

  • frissonner de peur

    shiver with fear

  • frissonner de plaisir

    shiver with pleasure

Similar words

trembler: To shake with small, repeated movements throughout the body or in one part.
grelotter: To tremble violently because of cold.
tressaillir: To react with a sudden jerk to surprise or fear.
frémir: To quiver subtly in response to emotion or physical stimulation.

Definition in French

Avoir un petit tremblement involontaire et passager du corps ou de la peau, provoqué par le froid, la peur ou une émotion soudaine.

Word origin

Frissonner is formed from the French noun frisson by adding the verb ending -er.

Usage tips

  • Frissonner de introduces the cause, as in frissonner de froid or frissonner de peur, rather than using English 'from' literally.

Other meanings

  • shudderverb

Opposites

  • se réchaufferwarm upverb

Related words

Word lists with this word