French Conversation · Level 142
30 words
French word
imprégner
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃pʁeɲe/
Meaning
- verbsoak
Example
Il faut imprégner le tissu avant la teinture.
The fabric must be soaked before dyeing.
More examples
Le parfum a imprégné ses vêtements après la soirée.
The perfume permeated his clothes after the party.
Core concept
A liquid or color filling the inner fibers of a material.
Common phrases
imprégner de
imbue with
imprégner le tissu
soak the fabric
Similar words
imbiber: To thoroughly soak cloth or fibers with liquid.
tremper: To immerse fabric or food in liquid and wet it thoroughly.
Definition in French
Signifie faire pénétrer un liquide, une couleur ou une substance dans la matière.
Word origin
French imprégner comes through Old French from Latin impraegnare, formed with in- meaning 'in' and praegnare meaning 'fill'.
Usage tips
- With this transitive verb, the material is the direct object and the substance is commonly introduced by de, as in imprégner le tissu de cire.