engendrer
/ɑ̃.ʒɑ̃.dʁe/
The English phrase 'beget' is translated into French as engendrer.
engendrer means to cause or produce. While it can refer to biological procreation, in modern French it is most frequently used in a formal or literary sense to mean causing an abstract result, such as engendrer la violence (to beget violence).
Meaning: cause, produce (verb)
Which one should you use?
engendrer is a more formal choice than the common verb causer (to cause) and carries a specific sense of bringing something into existence. If you are specifically referring to the act of procreating, procréer is another formal option.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of engendrer is engendré (begotten).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /ɑ̃.ʒɑ̃.dʁe/.
Did you know?
- The English word 'gender' is a distant cousin of engendrer, as both words trace back to the Latin 'genus', meaning 'kind' or 'type'.
- In French philosophy, engendrer is distinct from créer. While 'creating' suggests making something from nothing, engendrer implies the producer and the product share the same nature.
- While 'beget' sounds biblical or archaic to English speakers, French intellectuals and journalists use engendrer as a standard term to describe causal links between social events.
Examples in context
- Il a engendré trois enfants.He begot three children
- Le travail de l'artiste a engendré de nombreux imitateurs.The artist's work has begotten numerous imitators.
- Nos ancêtres ont engendré les traditions que nous chérissons.Our ancestors begot the traditions we cherish.
- La peur peut engendrer la violence.Fear can breed violence.
- Le manque de communication peut engendrer des malentendus.A lack of communication can cause misunderstandings.
- Cette décision va engendrer de grands changements.This decision will bring about great changes.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are discussing a project at work.
- HugoSi on change tout maintenant, ça va engendrer du retard.If we change everything now, it will cause a delay.
- LéaTu as raison, Hugo, c'est trop risqué.You are right, Hugo, it is too risky.
- HugoOn devrait donc garder le plan initial.We should therefore keep the initial plan.
- LéaJe suis d'accord avec toi, Léa approuve.I agree with you, Léa approves.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beget” translations and entries engendrer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
