French word

gâter

Pronunciation

IPA/gate/

Meaning

  • verbspoil

Example

Ne gâtez pas votre enfant.

Do not spoil your child.

Illustration for gâter (spoil)

More examples

Ses grands-parents gâtent l'enfant en lui offrant des jouets.

His grandparents spoil the child by giving him toys.

Core concept

Care or damage pushed too far leaves a person or thing in worse condition than intended.

Common phrases

  • gâter un enfant

    spoil a child

  • gâter quelqu'un

    spoil someone

  • gâter un bébé

    spoil a baby

Similar words

choyer: Care for someone with affection and gentle attention.
céder: Give in to someone's demands or requests and do what they want.
chouchouter: Pamper someone with special affection and attentive care.
surprotéger: Overprotect someone, preventing them from gaining experience independently.

Definition in French

Abîmer ou compromettre le développement, la qualité ou l'état d'une personne ou d'une chose, y compris en lui prodiguant des soins ou des avantages excessifs.

Word origin

French gâter comes from Old French gaster, ultimately from Latin vastare, meaning "to lay waste", and extends from physical damage to harmful overindulgence.

Usage tips

  • With a person as direct object, gâter quelqu'un often means to spoil that person, while choyer usually expresses affectionate pampering without the same negative result.

Other meanings

  • ruinverb
  • damageverb
  • rotverb

Opposites

Related words

  • gâtéspoiledadjective
  • gâterietreatnoun

Word lists with this word