French Conversation · Level 45
75 words
French word
insulter
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃sylte/
Meaning
- verbinsult
Example
Ne m'insulte pas, s'il te plaît.
Please don't insult me.
More examples
Il ne faut pas insulter quelqu'un même quand on est en colère.
One must not insult somebody even when one is angry.
Core concept
A verbal attack aimed at another person's dignity, using humiliating or coarse words.
Common phrases
insulter quelqu'un
insult somebody
insulter quelqu'un en public
insult somebody in public
Similar words
offenser: To hurt someone's feelings and make them feel offended.
blesser: To hurt someone emotionally through words or behavior.
injurier: To insult someone with abusive or foul language.
dénigrer: To speak badly of someone in a way that lowers their reputation or worth.
Definition in French
Employer des mots humiliants ou grossiers à l'adresse de quelqu'un dans le but de l'offenser.
Word origin
French insulter comes through Old French from Latin insultare, meaning to leap upon or assail, which developed into a verbal attack.
Usage tips
- Insulter takes a direct object in standard French, as in insulter quelqu'un, rather than the English-like form *insulter à quelqu'un.
Other meanings
- swear at ___verb
- abuseverb
Opposites
- respectershow respect forverb
- complimenterpraiseverb