/e.nɛʁ.ve/
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Translation
to irritate, to annoy; reflexively s'énerver, to get worked up
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Word origin
From Latin enervare ('to remove the sinews from, to weaken'), from e- ('out of') and nervus ('sinew, nerve'). French kept the medical sense for centuries before the modern meaning of fraying someone's nerves took over in the nineteenth century.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- enervare
- English cognates
- enervate, nerve, nervous
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | énerve | énervais | énervai | énerverai | énerverais |
| tu | énerves | énervais | énervas | énerveras | énerverais |
| il/elle | énerve | énervait | énerva | énervera | énerverait |
| nous | énervons | énervions | énervâmes | énerverons | énerverions |
| vous | énervez | énerviez | énervâtes | énerverez | énerveriez |
| ils/elles | énervent | énervaient | énervèrent | énerveront | énerveraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | énerve | énervasse |
| tu | énerves | énervasses |
| il/elle | énerve | énervât |
| nous | énervions | énervassions |
| vous | énerviez | énervassiez |
| ils/elles | énervent | énervassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | énerve |
| nous | énervons |
| vous | énervez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- énervant
- Past participle
- énervé · énervée · énervés · énervées
Examples
.
That noise has been getting on my nerves since this morning.
, .
Do not get worked up, we will find a solution.
.
He gets worked up as soon as anyone talks politics.
.
The children are annoying their grandmother with their questions.
.
I lost my temper on the phone and I regret it.
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French · Free printables
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Free printable study downloads for the French word "énerver" (to irritate, to annoy; reflexively s'énerver, to get worked up): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 14, lesson 1: énerver, frais, contrat and 7 more words.