psychanalyser
/psi.ka.na.li.ze/
To psychoanalyze in French is psychanalyser.
The verb psychanalyser is used both transitively, meaning to treat someone using psychoanalysis and intransitively, to describe the act of treating using psychoanalysis.
Meaning: (transitive) to treat (someone) using psychoanalysis, (intransitive) to treat using psychoanalysis (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a regular '-er' verb, psychanalyser follows the standard conjugation patterns for the first group of French verbs. The past participle is psychanalysé, meaning 'psychoanalyzed'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /psi.ka.na.li.ze/. It has 5 syllables.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'psychoanalyze' as a metaphor for scrutinizing someone's motives in an argument, French speakers would more likely use décortiquer, meaning 'to shell' or 'to dissect'.
- While psychanalyser is the formal term, French speakers often use the shortened noun psy to refer to any therapist, regardless of whether they actually practice psychoanalysis.
- The term psychanalyse led to the creation of the specific French 'Lacanian' school, which differs from traditional Freudian analysis by emphasizing linguistics and the structure of language.
Examples in context
- Mon ami, un psychologue renommé, lui a proposé de faire une psychanalyse.My friend, a renowned psychologist, suggested that he undergo psychoanalysis.
- Il veut psychanalyser ses patients.He wants to psychoanalyze his patients.
- Elle a décidé de psychanalyser ses rêves.She decided to psychoanalyze her dreams.
- Tu ne peux pas me psychanalyser comme ça !You can't just psychoanalyze me like that!
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a therapist in a cafe.
- ManonEst-ce qu'il va te psychanalyser ?Is he going to psychoanalyze you?
- HugoOui, il va me psychanalyser pendant un an.Yes, he is going to psychoanalyze me for a year.
- ManonC'est un processus très long.It is a very long process.
- HugoJe sais, mais j'en ai besoin.I know, but I need it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “psychoanalyze” translations and entries psychanalyser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
