How to Say "Involuntary" in French

involontaire

/ɛ̃.vɔ.lɔ̃.tɛʁ/

The English word involuntary is translated into French as involontaire.

involontaire is an adjective used to describe something that is done without intention or is unintentional.

Meaning: without intention, unintentional (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The word contains the prefix in-, which acts as a negation similar to the English prefixes 'un-' or 'in-'.

The adjective is epicene, meaning that involontaire has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns.

The word has 4 syllables and is pronounced /ɛ̃.vɔ.lɔ̃.tɛʁ/.

French speakers sometimes use the phrase sans le vouloir as a more natural, spoken alternative to the formal adjective involontaire.
In French law, l'involontaire is often used to distinguish 'manslaughter' from 'murder', as the former is categorized as an homicide involontaire.
The adjective involontaire is used to describe a person who is 'unwilling' or 'reluctant' to do something, not just an action done by accident.

C'était un acte involontaire
It was an involuntary act.
Cela s'est produit de manière non volontaire
It happened non-voluntarily.
Mon réflexe instinctif était de me protéger
My instinctive reflex was to protect myself.
Je ne peux pas contrôler mes réflexes involontaires lorsque j'ai peur.
I can't control my involuntary reflexes when I'm scared.
C'était un geste totalement involontaire.
It was a completely involuntary gesture.
Il a eu un tic involontaire.
He had an involuntary tic.
Une réaction involontaire peut survenir.
An involuntary reaction can occur.

Manon and Nathan are discussing a clumsy accident at a party.

Manon

Je suis désolée pour le verre cassé.
I am sorry about the broken glass.
Nathan

Ce n'est pas grave, c'était involontaire.
It is not serious, it was unintentional.
Manon

Tu es très gentil, Nathan.
You are very kind, Nathan.
Nathan

Ne t'inquiète pas pour ça.
Don't worry about it.

Sources

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