The French verb “inquiéter” and its reflexive counterpart “s’inquiéter” express worry, concern, or anxiety. While sharing the same root, these verbs have distinct uses and meanings.

Basic Meanings

“Inquiéter” (transitive form) means “to worry” or “to disturb” someone or something. For example:

• “Son comportement inquiète ses parents.” (His behavior worries his parents.)
• “Le bruit inquiète les animaux.” (The noise disturbs the animals.)

“S’inquiéter” (reflexive form) means “to worry oneself” or “to be concerned about.” It’s often followed by “de” or “pour.” Examples:

• “Je m’inquiète pour ma fille.” (I’m worried about my daughter.)
• “Elle s’inquiète de l’avenir.” (She’s worried about the future.)

Etymology

The verb comes from the Latin “inquietare,” meaning “to disturb” or “to trouble.” This Latin word combines:

• “in-” (meaning “not”)
• “quietus” (meaning “quiet” or “at rest”)

The original meaning was thus “to remove from a state of rest” or “to disturb peace.”

Common Constructions

1. With “de”:

• “Il s’inquiète de ses résultats.” (He’s worried about his results.)
• “Ne t’inquiète pas de ça.” (Don’t worry about that.)

1. With “pour”:

• “Nous nous inquiétons pour leur santé.” (We’re worried about their health.)
• “Elle s’inquiète pour son chat.” (She’s worried about her cat.)

1. In the imperative:

• “Ne t’inquiète pas!” (Don’t worry!)
• “Inquiétez-vous moins!” (Worry less!)

Tenses and Moods

The verb follows regular -er verb conjugation patterns. Some common forms:

Present:

• Je m’inquiète
• Tu t’inquiètes
• Il/Elle s’inquiète
• Nous nous inquiétons
• Vous vous inquiétez
• Ils/Elles s’inquiètent

Passé Composé:

• Je me suis inquiété(e)
• Tu t’es inquiété(e)
• Il s’est inquiété / Elle s’est inquiétée

Related Words

The verb has given rise to several related terms:

• inquiet/inquiète (adjective): worried, anxious
• inquiétude (noun): worry, anxiety
• inquiétant (adjective): worrying, disturbing

Modern usage of these words remains close to their Latin origins, maintaining the core meaning of disturbance to peace of mind or tranquility.