French Conversation · Level 87
60 words
French word
squatter
Pronunciation
IPA/skwate/
Meaning
- verbsquat
Example
Des familles squattent cet immeuble abandonné.
Families are squatting in this abandoned building.
More examples
Des jeunes ont commencé à squatter l'immeuble vide près de la gare.
Young people began illegally occupying the vacant building near the station.
Core concept
People turning an unapproved place into a home by staying there.
Common phrases
squatter un immeuble
illegally occupy a building
squatter un appartement
illegally occupy an apartment
Similar words
occuper: To occupy and use a place or building.
habiter: To live in a particular place.
emménager: To move into a new home with one's belongings.
loger: To stay somewhere temporarily.
Definition in French
S'introduire dans un lieu privé ou public sans l'accord du propriétaire et s'y installer pour y habiter.
Word origin
French borrowed squatter from English squat and squatter, then adopted it as a regular verb for occupying a place without the owner's agreement.
Usage tips
- French squatter takes a place as a direct object, as in squatter un immeuble, rather than normally requiring à.