Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Today’s French word of the day is the B1 reflexive verb s’énerver, which means ‘to get annoyed,’ ‘to get angry,’ and ‘to get worked up.’
s’énerver – IPA pronunciation /se.neʁ.ve/
S’énerver: Understanding and Using This French Verb
S’énerver word origin
The Modern French verb énerver comes from enervare in Latin, meaning to cause somebody to feel drained of energy.
S’énerver example sentences
Jean-Luc s’énerve souvent pour rien. C’est un mec très sensible.
Jean-Luc often gets worked up over nothing. He a very sensitive guy.
Sensible is a faux ami (false cognate) adjective in French meaning “sensitive”. These lessons cover souvent (often), rien (nothing) and mec (guy).
Tu m’énerves avec cette musique bruyante. Baisse le son un peu !
You’re annoying me with this noisy music. Lower the sound a bit!
This sentence uses the verb énerver in the non-reflexive form, meaning to irritate, bother or get on somebody’s nerves. Hence, tu m’énerves = you bother me. The adjective bruyant (noisy) is related to the noun le bruit (noise).
Present tense conjugation
Note the reflexive nature of the this verb, indicated by the se in the infinitive: s’énerver. This means that the subject is carrying out the action of the verb onto him or herself. Hence, ‘elle s’énerve’ is almost like saying ‘she annoys herself’.
- Je m’énerve I get annoyed/angry
- Tu t’énerves You get annoyed/angry (singular/informal)
- Il, elle s’énerve He, she gets annoyed/angry
- Nous nous énervons We get annoyed/angry
- Vous vous énervez You get annoyed/angry (plural/formal)
- Ils, elles s’énervent They get annoyed/angry
This lesson explains how to form and use reflexive verbs.
Synonyms
- se fâcher to get angry
- se mettre en colère to get angry
- être agacé annoyed, irritated, flustered
- s’irriter to be come irritated
Continue learning French!
Now that you’ve mastered s’énerver, check our our lesson covering a related verb râler (moan and groan, complain)!
Recent word of the day lesson | French verb drills (course)
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