ivre
/ivʁ/
The English word "inebriated" translates to French as ivre.
The adjective is used to describe someone behaving as though affected by alcohol. The related noun form is ivresse, which means inebriation or drunkenness.
Meaning: behaving as though affected by alcohol (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ivre is the standard term, the informal word saoul is a much more common way to say someone is drunk in everyday conversation. Ivre is considered more formal or literary than saoul.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective ivre is invariable in gender, so it does not change its spelling to match a feminine noun. To make the adjective plural, add an 's' to form ivres.
How do you pronounce it?
/ivʁ/
Did you know?
- While ivre describes the state of being drunk, the French use the phrase avoir un coup dans l'aile to describe someone who is stumbling or 'tipsy'.
- The term ivresse is used in French to describe the 'rush' felt during extreme sports or high-altitude climbing, known as ivresse des sommets.
- While ivre is the standard term, you may hear the more colloquial pompette used to describe someone who is only slightly tipsy.
Examples in context
- Il est ivre.He is inebriated.
- Elle est saoule.She is inebriated.
- Le chauffeur était en état d'ébriété.The driver was inebriated.
- Elle est torchée, elle devrait rentrer chez elle.She's wasted. She should go home.
- On a bien bu hier soir, on était tous pétés !We drank a lot last night. We were all wasted!
- Il est complètement ivre.He is completely inebriated.
- Elle semble un peu ivre.She seems a little inebriated.
- Ne conduis pas si tu es ivre.Do not drive if you are inebriated.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are at a party looking at a friend.
- ChloéRegarde Marc, il est très ivre.Look at Marc, he is very inebriated.
- LucasOui, il est vraiment ivre ce soir.Yes, he is really inebriated tonight.
- ChloéOn devrait l'aider à rentrer.We should help him get home.
- LucasBonne idée, il ne peut pas marcher seul.Good idea, he cannot walk alone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ivre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
