French Conversation · Level 78
60 words
French word
hantise
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃tiz/
Meaning
- feminine nounobsession
Example
Elle a la hantise de parler en public.
She has an obsession with speaking in public.
More examples
Sa hantise du regard des autres la rend réservée.
Her obsession with other people's scrutiny makes her reserved.
Core concept
A persistent fear that circles back until an ordinary situation feels mentally blocked.
Common phrases
avoir la hantise de
to have an obsession with ___
la hantise du regard des autres
an obsession with other people's scrutiny
Similar words
peur: A basic fear caused by danger or something unpleasant.
obsession: A thought or image that repeatedly returns and cannot be dismissed.
Definition in French
Peur ou inquiétude obsédante qui revient souvent et gêne la personne.
Word origin
The noun hantise derives from hanter, whose sense of haunting supports the idea of a fear that will not leave the mind.
Usage tips
- The common pattern is avoir la hantise de + a noun or infinitive, as in avoir la hantise de l'échec.