French word

régénérer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁeʒeneʁe/

Meaning

  • verbregenerate

Example

Après l'incendie, il faut régénérer la forêt.

After the fire, the forest needs to be regenerated.

Illustration for régénérer (regenerate)

More examples

Le corps peut régénérer ses tissus pendant le sommeil.

The body can regenerate its tissues during sleep.

Core concept

New life returning to a damaged system and restoring its activity.

Common phrases

  • régénérer la peau

    regenerate the skin

  • se régénérer

    regenerate itself

  • régénérer des cellules

    regenerate cells

Similar words

redonner: Give back something missing or a quality that has been lost.
relancer: Set a stalled activity in motion again and restore its momentum.
restaurer: Repair what has been damaged or lost and return it to its former state.
ranimer: Awaken faded feelings or vitality and bring them back to life.

Definition in French

Restaurer ou faire renaître la fonction, l'activité ou la vitalité d'une chose ou d'un système, au sens concret et au sens figuré.

Word origin

French régénérer comes from Latin regenerare, formed from re- meaning 'again' and generare meaning 'to bring forth'.

Usage tips

  • Régénérer is usually transitive, as in régénérer une forêt, while se régénérer describes something recovering or renewing itself.

Other meanings

  • reviveverb

Opposites

  • détériorermake worseverb
  • détruiredestroyverb

Related words

  • régénérationregenerationnoun
  • régénérableable to regenerateadjective
  • régénéréregeneratedadjective

Word lists with this word