French Conversation · Level 59
74 words
French word
lâcheté
Pronunciation
IPA/laʃəte/
Meaning
- feminine nouncowardice
Example
Sa lâcheté m'a surpris.
His cowardice surprised me.
More examples
Elle a reconnu sa lâcheté et a demandé pardon.
She admitted her cowardice and apologized.
Core concept
A fearful retreat that leaves a duty or difficult choice facing others.
Common phrases
faire preuve de lâcheté
show cowardice
un acte de lâcheté
an act of cowardice
agir par lâcheté
act out of cowardice
Similar words
manque de courage: A lack of courage that prevents someone from taking action.
peur: The feeling of being afraid because of danger or anxiety.
timidité: A reserved nature that makes social contact and assertive action difficult.
Definition in French
Désigne l'absence de courage face au danger, à une difficulté ou à une responsabilité, souvent marquée par la peur, la fuite ou le refus d'agir.
Word origin
The noun lâcheté derives from the adjective lâche and the suffix -eté, while lâche developed from Old French lasche and ultimately Latin laxus.
Usage tips
- Lâcheté carries strong moral condemnation, whereas manque de courage gives a more neutral description.