French word

inaugurer

Pronunciation

IPA/inogyʁe/

Meaning

  • verbopen

Example

Le maire va inaugurer le nouveau parc ce week-end.

The mayor will open the new park this weekend.

Illustration for inaugurer (open)

More examples

La galerie a inauguré une nouvelle exposition hier soir.

The gallery formally opened a new exhibition last night.

Core concept

Officials gathered around a new place, using speeches and a ribbon-cutting to give its public beginning a ceremonial mark.

Common phrases

  • inaugurer une exposition

    formally open an exhibition

  • inaugurer un musée

    formally open a museum

Similar words

ouvrir: Open a shop or facility for business and public use.
lancer: Start and publicly promote a product, event, or venture.
commencer: Begin an event, task, or period.

Definition in French

Marquer officiellement le début d'une activité ou l'ouverture d'un lieu par une cérémonie.

Word origin

French inaugurer comes from Latin inaugurare, a verb linked to augur and to rites that established something as officially valid.

Usage tips

  • Inaugurer is formal and takes a direct object, as in inaugurer un parc; everyday French often uses ouvrir for simply opening a place.

Other meanings

  • startverb
  • introduceverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word