French word

méprise

Pronunciation

IPA/mepʁiz/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmisunderstanding

Example

Il y a eu une méprise entre nous.

There was a misunderstanding between us.

Illustration for méprise (misunderstanding)

More examples

Elle a fait une méprise d'identité au magasin.

She mistook one person for another at the store.

Core concept

A wrong reading of what happened that sends an otherwise sensible response in the wrong direction.

Common phrases

  • faire une méprise

    make a mistake

  • méprise d'identité

    mistaken identity

Similar words

malentendu: A mutual misunderstanding arising when intended meaning fails to get across.
quiproquo: A mix-up in which one person or event is mistaken for another.

Definition in French

Mauvaise interprétation d'un propos ou d'une situation qui conduit à une évaluation ou une réaction incorrecte, parfois liée à une confusion de personne.

Word origin

The noun méprise developed from Old French mesprise, related to mesprendre, which combines mes- meaning wrongly with prendre meaning to take.

Usage tips

  • Méprise often names an error of interpretation or identification, while malentendu more directly suggests a misunderstanding between people.

Other meanings

  • mistaken identitynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word