French Conversation · Level 82
60 words
French word
involontaire
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃volɔ̃tɛʁ/
Meaning
- adjectiveunintentional
Example
C'était une erreur involontaire.
It was an unintentional mistake.
More examples
Elle a esquissé un sourire involontaire en entendant la nouvelle.
She gave an involuntary smile when she heard the news.
Core concept
A result or action that occurs without conscious choice.
Common phrases
sourire involontaire
involuntary smile
réflexe involontaire
involuntary reflex
Similar words
accidentel: Resulting from chance rather than from intention or planning.
non intentionnel: Lacking deliberate intent or a planned objective.
Definition in French
Qui n'est pas fait volontairement et qui survient sans intention consciente.
Word origin
French involontaire comes from Latin involuntarius, combining in- 'not' with voluntarius 'voluntary'.
Usage tips
- Involontaire has the same singular form for masculine and feminine nouns, as in un geste involontaire and une erreur involontaire.
Other meanings
- involuntaryadjective
Opposites
- volontaireintentionaladjective
Related words
- involontairementunintentionallyadverb