fracasser
/fʁa.ka.se/
To smash in French is fracasser.
The verb fracasser means to break something violently. In the context of tennis, the English word smash is also used in French as a noun.
Meaning: (transitive) to break violently (verb)
Which one should you use?
While the verb briser is a neutral way to say to break or shatter, fracasser specifically implies a much more violent, forceful or loud impact.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of fracasser is fracassé.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /fʁa.ka.se/.
Did you know?
- In French, if you describe a person as being fracassé, it does not mean they are physically broken, but rather that they are completely exhausted or 'shattered' by work or fatigue.
- The word fracasser was borrowed into French from the Italian word fracassare.
- While fracasser is for violent breaking, the word éclater is used for things that smash by bursting from the inside, like a balloon or a lightbulb.
Examples in context
- Le marteau a fracassé la vitre en mille morceaux.The hammer smashed the window into a thousand pieces.
- Le bulldozer a détruit la vieille maison en quelques secondes.The bulldozer smashed the old house in seconds.
- Attention, ne casse pas ce vase précieux !Be careful, don't smash this precious vase!
- Il a fracassé la porte.He smashed the door.
- Il ne faut pas fracasser le vase.You must not smash the vase.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are cleaning a garage.
- EmmaGabriel, fais attention à ce miroir !Gabriel, be careful with that mirror!
- GabrielJe ne vais pas le fracasser, promis.I am not going to smash it, I promise.
- EmmaC'est fragile, pose-le doucement là-bas.It is fragile, put it down gently over there.
- GabrielD'accord, je le pose avec soin.Okay, I am putting it down carefully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smash” translations and entries fracasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fracasser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
