French word

reconnaître

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəkonɛtʁ/

Meaning

  • verbrecognize

Example

Je n'ai pas reconnu mon ami.

I didn't recognize my friend.

Illustration for reconnaître (recognize)

More examples

Elle a fini par reconnaître ses torts.

She eventually admitted her faults.

Core concept

A present face or object matches a stored memory, bringing the earlier identity back into recognition.

Common phrases

  • reconnaître quelqu'un

    recognize someone

  • reconnaître un visage

    recognize a face

  • reconnaître ses torts

    admit one's faults

Similar words

connaître: Know a person or thing by name or through information about it.
se souvenir: Recall a past event or piece of information from memory.

Definition in French

Identifier une personne ou une chose comme déjà connue en comparant une perception présente à un souvenir, souvent par la vue.

Word origin

French reconnaître comes through Old French from Latin recognoscere, formed from re- meaning "again" and gnoscere meaning "know".

Usage tips

  • Reconnaître means recognizing someone or something already known, while connaître describes knowing a person, place, or subject.

Other meanings

  • acknowledgeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word