French Conversation · Level 113
59 words
French word
irriter
Pronunciation
IPA/iʁite/
Meaning
- verbannoy
Example
Sa voix m'irrite.
His voice annoys me.
More examples
Son ton sec a irrité plusieurs personnes.
His curt tone irritated several people.
Core concept
A small abrasive trigger that roughens skin and rubs patience the wrong way.
Common phrases
irriter quelqu'un
irritate someone
irriter la peau
irritate the skin
irriter les nerfs
irritate the nerves
Similar words
agacer: Mildly annoys someone.
gêner: Makes someone feel awkward.
embêter: Makes someone feel bothered and unhappy.
énerver: Causes strong irritation.
Definition in French
Provoquer une gêne ou une irritation, que ce soit un agacement psychologique (léger énervement) ou une réaction physique locale comme rougeur ou démangeaison.
Word origin
French irriter comes from Latin irritare, meaning to stimulate or provoke, with physical and emotional uses inherited through French.
Usage tips
- In French, irriter quelqu'un often means to annoy rather than to make the person angry, for which énerver or mettre en colère is stronger.