French word

plaisir

Pronunciation

IPA/pleziʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpleasure

Example

Elle a éprouvé du plaisir en recevant le cadeau.

She felt pleasure when she received the gift.

Illustration for plaisir (pleasure)

More examples

J'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à lire ce livre.

I took great pleasure in reading this book.

Core concept

A warm inner response to something pleasing, extending to the willing pleasure shown in doing it for someone.

Common phrases

  • prendre du plaisir

    take pleasure

  • faire plaisir

    please

Similar words

joie: A bright, intense feeling of joy and excitement.
satisfaction: A fulfilled feeling when hopes or expectations are met.
bonheur: A deep, lasting feeling of happiness.
amusement: A cheerful feeling caused by play or laughter.

Definition in French

Désigne la joie ou la satisfaction et employé aussi comme formule de politesse pour montrer qu'une action fait plaisir.

Word origin

French plaisir comes through Old French from Latin placere, 'to please', with the noun developing its senses of delight and willingness to please.

Usage tips

  • Plaisir is masculine, so the forms are le plaisir and un plaisir.

Other meanings

  • enjoymentnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word