French word

incarner

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃kaʁne/

Meaning

  • verbplay

Example

Dans le film, il incarne un médecin.

In the film, he plays a doctor.

Illustration for incarner (play)

More examples

Elle incarne un idéal de liberté dans son discours.

She embodies an ideal of freedom in her speech.

Core concept

A person whose behavior makes an abstract quality, idea, or role visibly present to others.

Common phrases

  • incarner un rôle

    play a role

  • incarner un personnage

    play a character

Similar words

jouer: To perform an assigned theatrical or film role using lines and gestures.
interpréter: To portray a character by interpreting the script or directions in a personal way.
représenter: To serve as an outward symbol of a concept or person.

Definition in French

Faire apparaître chez quelqu'un, par son attitude ou son jeu, une qualité, une idée ou un personnage identifiable par les autres.

Word origin

French incarner comes from Latin incarnare, formed from in- and caro, carnis, meaning flesh, and originally expressed giving something flesh before developing figurative uses.

Usage tips

  • Incarner is more formal or literary than jouer for performing a role, and it takes a direct object, as in incarner un médecin or une valeur.

Other meanings

  • embodyverb
  • symbolizeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • incarnationincarnationnoun
  • incarnéembodiedadjective

Word lists with this word