French word

revanche

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəvɑ̃ʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrevenge

Example

Il veut prendre sa revanche.

He wants to take his revenge.

Illustration for revanche (revenge)

More examples

Après la défaite, il a finalement pris sa revanche.

After the defeat, he finally took his revenge.

Core concept

A setback answered by a deliberate counterstroke that restores lost standing.

Common phrases

  • prendre sa revanche

    take one's revenge

  • prendre sa revanche sur quelqu'un

    take one's revenge on someone

Similar words

vengeance: Retaliation or revenge carried out to settle a personal grudge.
réparation: Compensation or reparation for harm or hardship suffered.

Definition in French

Désigne l'acte ou le résultat par lequel on cherche à compenser une humiliation ou une défaite, souvent par une action contre un adversaire.

Word origin

Revanche comes from Old French revenche, related to the verb revenchier, and became established as a noun.

Usage tips

  • Revanche is feminine, so the usual form is la revanche and the idiom is prendre sa revanche.

Other meanings

  • retaliationnoun

Opposites

  • pardonpardonnoun
  • réconciliationreconciliationnoun

Related words

  • revanchardvengefuladjective
  • revanchismerevanchismnoun

Word lists with this word