French Conversation · Level 120
57 words
French word
navrer
Pronunciation
IPA/navʁe/
Meaning
- verbsadden
Example
Ça me navre que tu partes.
It saddens me that you are leaving.
More examples
La nouvelle m'a navré.
The news saddened me.
Core concept
A painful inner wound makes someone grieve and marks an apology as serious and restrained.
Common phrases
Ça me navre
That saddens me
navrer quelqu'un
sadden someone
Similar words
désoler: To deeply upset someone and prompt regret or an apology.
peiner: To distress someone by causing emotional hurt or suffering.
attrister: To cause someone to feel gentle, heartfelt sadness.
Definition in French
Rendre quelqu'un profondément triste ou peiné ; peut aussi servir pour exprimer des excuses formelles (par ex. « Je suis navré »).
Word origin
Navrer is inherited from Old French with the original sense "to wound" and acquired its emotional sense through a figurative extension from bodily injury to sorrow.
Usage tips
- "Je suis navré" is a relatively formal apology, whereas "Je suis désolé" is generally more natural in casual conversation.