French word

hystérie

Pronunciation

IPA/isteʁi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhysteria

Example

Elle a eu une crise d'hystérie.

She had an attack of hysteria.

Illustration for hystérie (hysteria)

More examples

La foule est tombée dans l'hystérie après l'annonce.

The crowd fell into hysteria after the announcement.

Core concept

A short-lived loss of emotional control, pictured as feelings breaking out in intense speech or movement.

Common phrases

  • crise d'hystérie

    fit of hysteria

  • hystérie collective

    collective hysteria

  • sombrer dans l'hystérie

    sink into hysteria

Similar words

crise: A temporary event marked by sharply intensified emotions or symptoms.
panique: A sudden state of overwhelming fear or anxiety that disrupts calm judgment.
colère: A powerful outburst of anger marked by raised voices or forceful behavior.
agitation: A state of restless activity involving fidgeting or exaggerated movements.

Definition in French

Synonyme d'un accès d'agitation émotionnelle aiguë et passagère, marqué par une perte temporaire de contrôle et parfois appelé «crise d'hystérie».

Word origin

French hystérie is a learned medical borrowing from Latin hysteria, itself from Greek hystera, 'womb'; its sense changed as medical theories changed.

Usage tips

  • In modern French, hystérie often sounds pejorative or pathologizing, so crise émotionnelle or perte de contrôle can be more neutral.

Other meanings

  • hysterical fitnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • hystériquehystericaladjective
  • hystériquementhystericallyadverb
  • hystériserhystericizeverb

Word lists with this word