French Conversation · Level 127
45 words
French word
tabasser
Pronunciation
IPA/tabase/
Meaning
- verbbeat up
Example
Il a tabassé son adversaire.
He beat up his opponent.
More examples
En rentrant, il s'est fait tabasser.
On his way home, he got beaten up.
Core concept
A person is struck again and again with great force until the person is injured or knocked down.
Common phrases
tabasser quelqu'un
beat someone up
se faire tabasser
get beaten up
Similar words
frapper: Hit someone with a hand or with an object.
battre: Beat someone repeatedly to knock them down or overpower them.
agresser: Use violence or threats to attack and harm someone.
blesser: Inflict physical pain or injury on someone.
Definition in French
Infliger des coups répétés et violents à une personne, souvent jusqu'à la blesser ou la mettre à terre.
Word origin
The verb is a colloquial formation from the older expression "passer quelqu'un à tabac"; the deeper origin of "tabac" in that expression is uncertain.
Usage tips
- Tabasser is strongly colloquial and describes severe deliberate violence, so it is not a neutral equivalent of "frapper".