Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| guérir | /ɡe.ʁiʁ/ |
| assainir | /a.sɛ.niʁ/ /a.se.niʁ/ |
The word 'heal' in French can be used in different ways depending on whether you are talking about a person, a wound or an environment. Use guérir when referring to a person recovering from illness or the healing of a physical wound. If the sense of 'healing' refers to making an environment, a system or a situation healthy or clean, use assainir.
Which one should you use?
There are specific distinctions between the French verbs for 'heal':
– Use guérir to refer to the recovery of a person or the healing of a physical wound. – Use assainir when the sense of 'healing' means to make an environment, a system or a situation healthy or clean (for example, 'to sanitize a situation'). – Use cicatriser when specifically referring to the process of wounds healing and forming scars.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb guérir is versatile and can be used both transitively, such as to heal someone and intransitively, meaning to get well or to heal.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡe.ʁiʁ/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- The French verb guérir shares a common ancestor with the English word 'guard'. They both trace back to an ancient root meaning 'to protect' or 'to defend'.
- In French, the expression guérir d'un mal can be used to describe someone who has finally overcome a bad habit or a psychological obsession.
- The root of assainir comes from the word sain, which means 'healthy' and is the ancestor of the English word 'sanity'.
Examples in context
- Ziri aidera Rima à guérir.Ziri will help Rima heal.This sentence shows how to use guérir to express the idea of helping someone recover.Tatoeba #12141231 by always, translation #11253221 by Amastan
- C'est Dieu qui guérira Gunter.God will heal Gunter.This sentence demonstrates the use of guérir in a spiritual context.Tatoeba #12480322 by always, translation #11628755 by Amastan
- Tu ne peux pas guérir un cœur brisé.You cannot heal a broken heart.This sentence uses guérir in a metaphorical sense regarding a broken heart.Tatoeba #4479366 by mouche, translation #1553180 by trieuho
- Il souhaite guérir rapidement de sa blessure.He wishes to heal quickly from his injury.
- Elle espère guérir de ses peines de cœur.She hopes to heal from her heartaches.
- Après quelques semaines, la plaie a réussi à cicatriser.After a few weeks, the wound managed to heal.
- Le patient se rétablit rapidement après l'intervention chirurgicale.The patient is healing quickly after the surgery.
- Elle se remet doucement de sa grippe.She is slowly recovering from her flu.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about a wounded bird in the garden.
- NathanCe petit oiseau a besoin de guérir.This little bird needs to heal.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu peux le guérir ?Can you heal him?
- NathanJe vais essayer de le guérir.I am going to try to heal him.
- ChloéIl a de la chance de t'avoir.He is lucky to have you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heal” translations and entries guérir, assainir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries assainir, guérir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
