French word

voire

Pronunciation

IPA/vwaʁ/

Meaning

  • adverbeven

Example

Il est fatigué, voire épuisé.

He is tired, or even exhausted.

Illustration for voire (even)

More examples

Il a trois, voire quatre options.

He has three, or possibly even four options.

Core concept

A second point added to the first, pushing the degree or evaluation toward a stronger extreme.

Common phrases

  • trois voire quatre

    three, or possibly even four

  • voire même

    possibly even

Similar words

même: Includes an especially unexpected example for emphasis, in the sense of 'even'.
davantage: Indicates a greater amount or degree than the present level.
encore: Shows that something additional is added.
plus: Indicates an increase in quantity or intensity.

Definition in French

Indique une addition emphatique à l'énoncé précédent, souvent traduisible par «et même» ou «au point que».

Word origin

French voire comes through Old French from Latin verus, meaning 'true', as an earlier sense of 'truly' developed into an emphatic additive adverb.

Usage tips

  • Voire is pronounced like voir, but it is an adverb rather than the infinitive meaning 'to see'.

Other meanings

  • indeedadverb

Opposites

  • à peinebarelyadverb

Word lists with this word