French word

subir

Pronunciation

IPA/sybiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbundergo

Example

J'ai subi une opération.

I underwent surgery.

Illustration for subir (undergo)

More examples

Après l'incident, l'entreprise a subi des pertes importantes.

After the incident, the company suffered significant losses.

Core concept

An external force or event comes down on a person, who remains under it rather than choosing it.

Common phrases

  • subir des conséquences

    suffer consequences

  • subir une perte

    suffer a loss

  • subir des changements

    undergo changes

Similar words

souffrir: To suffer physical or emotional pain.
supporter: To tolerate something unpleasant or difficult.
endurer: To bear a painful condition over an extended period.
éprouver: To feel an emotion or state within oneself.

Definition in French

éprouver ou endurer quelque chose qui est imposé ou qui arrive de l'extérieur, souvent désagréable.

Word origin

French subir comes from Latin subire, formed from sub- 'under' and ire 'go', whose sense developed from 'go under' to undergo or endure something imposed.

Usage tips

  • Subir normally takes a direct object without a preposition: subir une opération, des dégâts, or une pression.

Other meanings

  • sufferverb
  • endureverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word