French Conversation · Level 167
15 words
French word
purger
Pronunciation
IPA/pyʁʒe/
Meaning
- verbserve
Example
Il doit purger sa peine.
He must serve his sentence.
More examples
Il a été gracié et n'a pas eu à purger sa peine.
He was pardoned and did not have to serve his sentence.
Core concept
A court-imposed sentence being carried out day by day until nothing remains to be served.
Common phrases
purger une peine
serve a sentence
purger une peine de cinq ans
serve a five-year sentence
Similar words
aller en prison: To go to prison and spend the term there.
faire de la prison: To do time in prison, in colloquial usage.
subir: To endure a sentence imposed as punishment.
Definition in French
Accomplir la peine prononcée par un tribunal, en particulier effectuer la durée d'emprisonnement prévue.
Word origin
French purger descends from Latin purgare, 'to cleanse', with the legal sense extending from clearing or settling an obligation to serving a sentence.
Usage tips
- Purger une peine normally means actually serving it, whereas une peine avec sursis is suspended and is not served unless the suspension is revoked.