French word

réconforter

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁekɔ̃fɔʁte/

Meaning

  • verbcomfort

Example

N'hésite pas à réconforter ton ami.

Don't hesitate to comfort your friend.

Illustration for réconforter (comfort)

More examples

Elle a essayé de réconforter son frère après la mauvaise nouvelle.

She tried to comfort her brother after the bad news.

Core concept

A distressed person regains emotional steadiness through another person's words, presence, or touch.

Common phrases

  • réconforter quelqu'un

    comfort someone

  • réconforter un ami

    comfort a friend

  • réconforter par des mots

    comfort with words

Similar words

consoler: To comfort someone who is feeling grief or emotional pain.
rassurer: To make someone feel safer when they are afraid or worried.
soutenir: To stand by someone in difficulty with continued emotional support.
encourager: To inspire someone to act or face a challenge with courage.

Definition in French

Par des paroles, une présence ou un geste, redonner courage ou calme à quelqu'un en détresse.

Word origin

French réconforter comes through Old French from Latin reconfortare, with re- meaning 'again' and confortare meaning 'strengthen'.

Usage tips

  • Réconforter is transitive and takes the person directly, as in réconforter son ami, rather than with à.

Opposites

Related words

  • réconfortcomfortnoun
  • réconfortantcomfortingadjective

Word lists with this word