French word

interdire

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃tɛʁdiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbforbid

Example

Je t'interdis de fumer.

I forbid you to smoke.

Illustration for interdire (forbid)

More examples

Le gouvernement a interdit l'importation de ce produit.

The government banned the import of this product.

Core concept

An official barrier placed between a person and an action.

Common phrases

  • interdire de fumer

    prohibit smoking

  • interdire l'accès

    prohibit access

Similar words

défendre: Prohibit an act by declaring that it must not be done.
empêcher: Prevent an act from occurring through physical or situational obstacles.
refuser: Refuse a request or offer and withhold permission for the act.

Definition in French

Proscrire un acte, le rendre interdit ou illégal; verbe transitif qui prend souvent une personne et un infinitif en complément.

Word origin

French interdire comes from Latin interdicere, formed from inter 'between' and dicere 'to say', with the sense of declaring something off-limits.

Usage tips

  • The usual construction is interdire quelque chose à quelqu'un or interdire à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose, as in interdire de fumer.

Other meanings

  • barverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word