French word

ivre

Pronunciation

IPA/ivʁ/

Meaning

  • adjectivedrunk

Example

Ne conduis pas, tu es ivre.

Don't drive, you're drunk.

Illustration for ivre (drunk)

More examples

Après la fête, il était encore ivre.

After the party, he was still drunk.

Core concept

An alcohol-affected person who feels dizzy, loses coordination, and cannot judge situations clearly.

Common phrases

  • être ivre

    be drunk

  • devenir ivre

    get drunk

Similar words

saoul: Intoxicated after drinking alcohol.
bourré: Heavily drunk after consuming a large amount of alcohol.
pompette: Mildly tipsy and pleasantly light-hearted after a small amount of alcohol.
éméché: Slightly drunk, with mildly slowed judgment and movements.

Definition in French

État d'une personne qui, après avoir consommé de l'alcool, ressent étourdissements, désorientation ou perte de coordination.

Word origin

French inherited ivre from Latin ebrius through Old French, where the word underwent early vowel loss and subsequent sound changes.

Usage tips

  • Ivre is commonly used with être, as in être ivre, while saoul is a more familiar everyday alternative in many contexts.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word