French word

reconstruire

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəkɔ̃stʁɥiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbrebuild

Example

Après le tremblement de terre, nous devons reconstruire la maison.

After the earthquake, we have to rebuild the house.

Illustration for reconstruire (rebuild)

More examples

Il a essayé de reconstruire la confiance après le malentendu.

He tried to rebuild trust after the misunderstanding.

Core concept

A damaged structure is built again piece by piece until it can serve its former purpose.

Common phrases

  • reconstruire la maison

    rebuild the house

  • reconstruire une relation

    rebuild a relationship

  • reconstruire la confiance

    rebuild trust

Similar words

réparer: To repair a defective component or machine until it functions normally.
rénover: To renovate a building or room for better function or appearance.
refaire: To redo something from the start when it is broken or badly made.

Definition in French

Remettre en état en refaisant une construction détruite afin qu'elle retrouve son usage antérieur.

Word origin

Reconstruire combines re- with construire, from Latin construere, 'to build together', so it retains the sense of building anew.

Usage tips

  • Reconstruire normally takes a direct object, as in reconstruire la maison; its reflexive form se reconstruire also applies figuratively to a person or relationship.

Other meanings

  • reconstructverb

Opposites

Related words

  • reconstructionreconstructionnoun
  • reconstruitrebuiltadjective

Word lists with this word