French word

obérer

Pronunciation

IPA/obeʁe/

Meaning

  • verbburden

Example

Cette réforme risque d'obérer le budget communal.

This reform risks burdening the municipal budget.

Illustration for obérer (burden)

More examples

Les intérêts élevés d'un prêt peuvent obérer vos finances.

High interest on a loan can burden your finances.

Core concept

A budget weighed down by debt, leaving little room for other spending.

Similar words

coûter: To require a payment or expense in order to obtain something.
peser: To weigh heavily on someone or something as a burden.
ruiner: To cause financial ruin by destroying assets or a business.

Definition in French

Imposer une charge financière qui pèse fortement sur les ressources d'un individu ou d'une institution, en particulier par l'endettement.

Word origin

French obérer comes from Latin obaerare, 'to burden with debt', formed with ob- and aes, aeris, 'money'.

Usage tips

  • Obérer is formal and commonly takes a direct object such as le budget, whereas everyday French often uses coûter cher or peser sur.

Other meanings

  • encumberverb
  • weigh downverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word