French word

vouer

Pronunciation

IPA/vwe/

Meaning

  • verbdevote

Example

Il voue sa vie à sa famille.

He devotes his life to his family.

Illustration for vouer (devote)

More examples

Elle voue un culte à cette chanteuse.

She worships this singer.

Core concept

A person steadily directing a life, feeling, or effort toward a chosen recipient.

Common phrases

  • vouer sa vie à

    devote one's life to ___

  • vouer un culte à

    worship ___

  • vouer fidélité à

    pledge loyalty to ___

Similar words

consacrer: To devote time or effort to a person or purpose.
se consacrer à: To devote one's time or energy to a particular activity or person.
s'engager: To commit to an activity or promise and accept responsibility for it.
sacrifier: To give up one's desires or interests to put something else first.

Definition in French

Consacrer ou réserver à quelqu'un ou à quelque chose un engagement, une dévotion ou un sentiment intense, souvent introduit par la préposition « à ».

Word origin

French vouer comes through Old French from Latin votare, linked to votum, a vow or solemn offering.

Usage tips

  • Vouer is more formal or literary than consacrer in many modern contexts, while se vouer à means dedicating oneself to a person or cause.

Other meanings

  • vowverb
  • revereverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word