How do you say "fear" in French?

craindre

Verb Noun

In French, "fear" is craindre.

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Pronunciation

Say cran-DR, with a strong nasal an and the ending dr blending quickly into one beat.

Grammar notes

craindre is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.

Example sentence

Beaucoup de gens craignent l’obscurité.

Many people fear the dark.

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How to remember craindre

A crane bird might make you craindre if it suddenly flies at your face.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

Questions about craindre

How do you pronounce craindre?

Say cran-DR, with a strong nasal an and the ending dr blending quickly into one beat.

Is craindre formal or casual?

craindre is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is craindre used in French?

craindre is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Beaucoup de gens craignent l’obscurité. (Many people fear the dark.).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Fear" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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