émouvoir

The verb émouvoir is a slightly formal French verb that means to move emotionally or to stir feelings. It is derived from the same root as the English word emotion. While not as commonly used in casual conversation as other verbs, it is highly expressive and often appears in literature, speeches, and formal settings.

1. Conjugation Basics

Émouvoir is an irregular verb that follows a unique conjugation pattern similar to mouvoir. Here are some key forms of the verb:

  • Infinitive: émouvoir
  • Present participle: émouvant
  • Past participle: ému (m), émue (f)

Present Tense Conjugation:

PronounConjugation
jeémeus
tuémeus
il/elle/onémeut
nousémouvons
vousémouvez
ils/ellesémeuvent

Example:

  • Elle m’émeut.
    (She moves me emotionally.)

2. Meanings of “Émouvoir”

A. To stir or move emotionally

The most common meaning of émouvoir is to affect someone’s emotions deeply, often in a positive or poignant way.

  • Ce film m’a ému.
    (This movie moved me.)
  • Les paroles du chanteur ont ému le public.
    (The singer’s words moved the audience.)

B. To cause concern or agitation

In some contexts, émouvoir can refer to causing worry, anxiety, or unrest.

  • La nouvelle a ému toute la communauté.
    (The news stirred the whole community.)

3. Reflexive (Pronominal) Usage: “S’émouvoir”

When used reflexively as s’émouvoir, the verb means to become emotionally moved or to be affected. It can also imply becoming upset or stirred in a more neutral or negative sense.

A. To become emotionally moved:

  • Elle s’est émue en voyant les photos.
    (She was moved when she saw the photos.)
  • Je ne peux m’empêcher de m’émouvoir devant une telle gentillesse.
    (I can’t help but be moved by such kindness.)

B. To become upset or agitated:

  • Il s’émeut facilement quand on parle de ce sujet.
    (He gets upset easily when we talk about this subject.)

4. Related Expressions

  • Être ému(e): To be moved (emotionally).
    • J’étais très ému(e) à la fin du concert.
      (I was very moved at the end of the concert.)
  • Émouvant(e): Moving, touching (adjective).
    • C’était un discours très émouvant.
      (It was a very moving speech.)

5. Tips for Using “Émouvoir”

  • Context is key: Since émouvoir can have both positive and negative connotations, make sure the surrounding words and tone clarify your meaning.
  • Reflexive usage: When you want to describe how you feel, use the reflexive form s’émouvoir or the related adjective ému(e).

Summary Table:

FormMeaningExample
émouvoirTo move emotionallyCe livre m’a ému. (This book moved me.)
s’émouvoirTo become emotionally moved/upsetJe me suis ému(e). (I was moved.)
être ému(e)To be movedElle était très émue. (She was moved.)
émouvant(e)Moving, touching (adjective)Une scène émouvante. (A touching scene.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • lequel

    The relative pronoun lequel and its variants (laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles, auquel, duquel, etc.) are used to refer to a previously mentioned noun while avoiding ambiguity. They are more precise than qui or que and are often employed in formal writing or when clarity is essential. Forms of lequel The pronoun lequel agrees in gender and…

  • s’en aller, s’en faire, s’en vouloir

    These three French expressions are frequently used. They combine a reflexive pronoun (“se”) with the adverbial pronoun “en,” which can mean a variety of things, including “of it,” “of them,” “some of them,” “any of them,” “any of it,” “some of it,” “from it,” “from them,” etc. s’en aller Meaning: to leave, to go away…

  • être

    The French verb “être” is the equivalent of the English verb “to be.” It’s the most frequently used verb in the whole French language. It’s an irregular verb, which means that is doesn’t follow regular conjugation patterns. This is the present tense of être: The verb être is used to express identity, nationality, and describing…

  • Comparative adjectives

    How to Form and Use Comparative Adjectives in French Comparative adjectives in French are used to compare two things or people. They allow you to express that something is either more, less, or equally “something” (big, small, interesting, etc.) than another thing. 1. Comparing with “More” (Plus…que) To say that something is more of a…

  • ce qui

    The French indefinite relative pronoun “ce qui” serves as a subject pronoun referring to an unspecified or general idea. It translates to “what” or “that which” in English and is used when the antecedent is not a specific noun but rather an entire concept or situation. Grammatical function “Ce qui” always functions as the subject…

  • a place

    In French, there are multiple words to describe a location or place. Choosing the right word depends on the context, formality, and meaning. 1. Endroit (Masculine) Endroit refers to a specific place in a general sense. It is commonly used in everyday speech and can describe a physical location without implying any formal designation. 2….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *