French word

offenser

Pronunciation

IPA/ofɑ̃se/

Meaning

  • verboffend

Example

Je ne veux pas t'offenser, désolé.

I don't want to offend you, sorry.

Illustration for offenser (offend)

More examples

Ses paroles ont fini par offenser toute la famille.

His words eventually offended the whole family.

Core concept

A careless remark or gesture strikes directly at someone's dignity, leaving the social exchange tense.

Common phrases

  • offenser quelqu'un

    offend someone

  • s'offenser de quelque chose

    take offense at something

  • offenser la sensibilité

    offend the sensibilities

Similar words

blesser: Hurt someone's feelings or self-respect through words or actions.
vexer: Cause annoyance or irritation through insensitive words or actions.
froisser: Cause slight offense or awkwardness through tactless behavior.
choquer: Cause strong shock, disgust, or offense.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour exprimer qu'une remarque, un geste ou un comportement blesse moralement une personne.

Word origin

French offenser comes from Latin offendere, 'to strike against' or 'stumble against', which developed the figurative sense of harming someone's feelings.

Usage tips

  • Offenser takes a direct object, as in offenser quelqu'un, rather than a construction with the preposition a.

Other meanings

  • insultverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word