French Conversation · Level 137
30 words
French word
ravager
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁavaʒe/
Meaning
- verbdevastate
Example
La tempête a ravagé les champs.
The storm devastated the fields.
More examples
Un incendie a ravagé plusieurs hectares de forêt.
A fire devastated several hectares of forest.
Core concept
A powerful force tears through a place, its goods, or its people, leaving deep and widespread damage.
Common phrases
ravager des forêts
devastate forests
ravager une région
devastate a region
ravager l'économie
devastate the economy
Similar words
dévaster: Cause widespread destruction and serious damage over a large area.
détruire: Destroy something completely, removing its form or function.
ruiner: Make property or plans worthless, causing the loss of value or opportunity.
abîmer: Damage a surface or part, making its condition worse.
Definition in French
S'emploie pour dire qu'un événement ou une action endommage profondément un lieu, des biens ou des personnes.
Word origin
Ravager formed from the noun ravage with the verb ending -er; ravage comes through Old French from Latin rapere, meaning to seize or carry off.
Usage tips
- Ravager is transitive, so the damaged place, goods, or people follow it directly without a preposition.