French word

importuner

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃pɔʁtyne/

Meaning

  • verbbother

Example

Je ne veux pas importuner mes voisins.

I don't want to bother my neighbors.

Illustration for importuner (bother)

More examples

Elle hésite à appeler de peur d'importuner son ami.

She hesitates to call for fear of bothering her friend.

Core concept

A person or request intruding until the other person feels bothered and wants the interruption to stop.

Common phrases

  • importuner quelqu'un

    bother someone

Similar words

déranger: To interrupt someone's work or rest and interfere with it.
gêner: To hinder someone's actions or movements and restrict them.
ennuyer: To bore or upset someone and spoil their mood.
embêter: To pester someone with small, repeated annoyances.

Definition in French

Embarrasser ou incommoder quelqu'un, souvent par une présence, une question ou une demande non désirée.

Word origin

The French verb developed from Latin importunare through Old French, with the sense of causing unwelcome inconvenience.

Usage tips

  • Je ne veux pas vous importuner is a polite formula for avoiding an intrusion and usually does not express a strong complaint.

Other meanings

  • annoyverb
  • inconvenienceverb

Related words

Word lists with this word