French Conversation · Level 41
75 words
French word
inhibition
Pronunciation
IPA/inibisjɔ̃/
Meaning
- feminine nouninhibition
Example
Son inhibition l'empêche de parler franchement.
His inhibition keeps him from speaking frankly.
More examples
Quand il boit, il manque d'inhibition.
When he drinks, he lacks inhibition.
Core concept
A pressure inside the mind that keeps a feeling or behavior from coming out.
Common phrases
se libérer de ses inhibitions
free oneself from one's inhibitions
manquer d'inhibition
lack inhibition
Similar words
gêne: Self-conscious discomfort that makes it difficult to speak and move naturally around others.
retenue: Self-restraint that keeps feelings and behavior modest and controlled.
réserve: Guarded reserve that holds thoughts and feelings back from open expression.
timidité: Shyness that causes tension and passivity in social situations.
Definition in French
Action ou état de retenir ou d'empêcher l'expression d'une impulsion, d'une émotion ou d'un comportement, souvent par une force intérieure.
Word origin
The noun inhibition entered French through learned Latin usage from inhibere, meaning 'to restrain' or 'hold back'.
Usage tips
- In everyday French, se retenir or être gêné is often more natural than inhibition, which sounds formal or psychological.