French word

refuser

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəfyze/

Meaning

  • verbrefuse

Example

Je refuse ton offre.

I refuse your offer.

Illustration for refuser (refuse)

More examples

Il a refusé mon invitation.

He turned down my invitation.

Core concept

A hand pushes an offered proposal, invitation, or request away instead of accepting it.

Common phrases

  • refuser une offre

    turn down an offer

  • refuser une invitation

    turn down an invitation

  • refuser de + infinitif

    refuse to ___

Similar words

dire non: To say no outright instead of accepting something.
rejeter: To turn down an offer or idea.
décliner: To courteously refuse an offer.

Definition in French

Dire non à une proposition, une invitation ou à une demande.

Word origin

French refuser comes through Old French from Latin refusare, a verb meaning "to reject or refuse".

Usage tips

  • The usual patterns are refuser une offre and refuser de venir, not refuser à venir.

Other meanings

  • rejectverb
  • declineverb

Opposites

Related words

  • refusrefusalnoun
  • refusérefusedadjective

Word lists with this word