torture
/tɔʁ.tyʁ/feminine
The English word "torture" can be translated into French as torture.
torture is a noun referring to the intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.
Meaning: intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony (noun)
Which one should you use?
The noun torture (the act) is distinct from the verb torturer (to perform the act).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun torture is feminine and requires feminine articles like la or une.
How do you pronounce it?
torture is pronounced /tɔʁ.tyʁ/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The English word 'torque', used in physics and mechanics to describe a twisting force, shares the same linguistic root as the French word torture.
- In French, the word tortue (turtle) sounds remarkably similar to torture to an untrained ear. This phonetic proximity can lead to humorous misunderstandings in fast-paced conversation.
- The Latin root tortus also gave rise to the English word 'tort', which refers to a civil wrong in law, linking legal wrongs to the root of torture.
Examples in context
- Ils vont torturer Tom.They're going to torture Tom.This sentence uses the verb form of torture to show an action being directed at a person.Tatoeba #5647316 by Aiji, translation #3520379 by CK
- Ce livre parle de la torture.This book is about torture.This sentence uses the noun torture to indicate the subject of a book.Tatoeba #4676137 by Amastan, translation #4748878 by reblica
- La torture est un crime contre l'humanité.Torture is a crime against humanity.This sentence uses the noun torture to define it as a crime.Tatoeba #3179281 by sacredceltic, translation #2650053 by Hybrid
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical documentary.
- LéaLa torture est montrée dans ce film.Torture is shown in this movie.
- LucasC'est vraiment une scène difficile à regarder.It is really a difficult scene to watch.
- LéaOui, la torture est un sujet très lourd.Yes, torture is a very heavy subject.
- LucasIl faut être courageux pour le voir.One must be brave to watch it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “torture” translations and entries torture, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
