French word

intimité

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃timite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounprivacy

Example

Respecte mon intimité, s'il te plaît.

Please respect my privacy.

Illustration for intimité (privacy)

More examples

Les médias ont envahi son intimité en diffusant ces images.

The media invaded his privacy by broadcasting these images.

Core concept

A protected inner sphere of personal life, including private facts, relationships, and feelings.

Common phrases

  • respecter l'intimité

    respect privacy

  • envahir l'intimité

    invade privacy

Similar words

vie privée: Personal life and living circumstances outside work and public life.
secret: Something concealed so that other people do not learn about it.
confidentialité: A state of keeping specific information protected from outsiders.
discrétion: Thoughtful restraint in speech or conduct to protect others' privacy.

Definition in French

Ensemble d'éléments de la vie privée que l'on ne veut pas rendre publics.

Word origin

French intimité derives from intime with the abstract-noun suffix -té, while intime comes from Latin intimus, meaning 'most inward'.

Usage tips

  • English privacy usually matches intimité when private life or information is involved, while intimacy usually refers to emotional or physical closeness.

Other meanings

  • intimacynoun
  • private lifenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word