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How To Use “Décevoir” (To Disappoint) In French

How To Use “Décevoir” (To Disappoint) In French

Today’s lesson explores how to use the verb décevoir, meaning to disappoint, in French.

décevoir

to disappoint

Décevoir - Frenchverb meaning "to disappoint".

Word origin

The Modern French verb décevoir comes from decipere in Latin, which means both to disappoint and cheat or deceive.

Décevoir is somewhat of a faux ami (false cognate) as it looks like “to deceive”. Tu me décois means “you’re disappointing me”. The French are more likely to use the verb tromper for “to deceive”. Tu me trompes translates to “you’re deceiving (or cheating) me”.

Present tense conjugation

Je déçois I disappoint
Tu déçois You disappoint (singular, informal)
Il, elle déçoit He, she disappoints
Nous décevons We disappoint
Vous décevez You disappoint (plural, formal)
Ils, elles déçoivent They disappoint

Example sentences

Tu me déçois. Pourquoi est-ce que tu n’as pas fais tes devoirs?

You are disappointing me. Why didn’t you do your homework?

This sentence uses the adjective for disappointed: déçu (or déçue in the feminine form).

Le film a été très moyen. Je suis un peu déçu.

The movie was very average. I’m a bit disappointed.

Décevant(e) is the present participle of décevoir and means “disappointing”.

Ces leçons de vocabulaire ne sont jamais décevantes !

These vocabulary lessons are never disappointing!

Related lessons

Reference

Word of the Day | Lessons by David Issokson

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David Issokson
David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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