French word

injure

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃ʒyʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nouninsult

Example

Ne réponds pas aux injures.

Don't respond to insults.

Illustration for injure (insult)

More examples

Elle a reçu des injures sur les réseaux sociaux.

She received insults on social media.

Core concept

A verbal blow aimed at a person's dignity.

Common phrases

  • lancer des injures

    hurl insults

  • une injure publique

    a public insult

Similar words

insulte: A direct abusive remark aimed at insulting someone.
moquerie: Mocking words or behavior that make fun of someone.
dérision: Ridiculing behavior that mocks and belittles someone.
mépris: An attitude that treats someone as inferior or unworthy of respect.

Definition in French

Parole(s) qui ont pour but d'offenser ou d'insulter quelqu'un ; on trouve souvent le pluriel « les injures » pour parler de propos grossiers ou diffamatoires.

Word origin

French injure comes through Old French from Latin iniuria, which meant injustice or wrongful treatment before developing a sense of verbal insult.

Usage tips

  • Injure is a feminine noun, so the usual singular form is une injure and the common plural is les injures.

Other meanings

  • abusenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • injurierinsultverb
  • injurieuxinsultingadjective

Word lists with this word