French word

quitter

Pronunciation

IPA/kite/

Meaning

  • verbleave

Example

Il faut quitter la pièce maintenant.

It is necessary to leave the room now.

Illustration for quitter (leave)

More examples

Après la dispute, il a choisi de quitter sa copine.

After the argument, he chose to break up with his girlfriend.

Core concept

A person cuts ties with a place, pursuit, or relationship and goes on without it.

Common phrases

  • quitter quelqu'un

    break up with someone

  • quitter la ville

    leave the city

Similar words

partir: To depart from the current location for another place.
s'en aller: To go away from the place where one is.
sortir: To go out of a building or room.
laisser: To leave a person or thing behind when departing.

Definition in French

Partir d'un lieu ou rompre une relation ou une activité en laissant derrière soi une personne, un objet ou une situation.

Word origin

The verb comes from Old French quiter, borrowed from Latin quietare, meaning to calm or release, whose meaning broadened toward leaving and ending involvement.

Usage tips

  • With a person as its direct object, quitter quelqu'un often means ending a romantic relationship, not merely walking away briefly.

Other meanings

  • departverb
  • quitverb
  • abandonverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word