At the A1 level, you usually learn simple words like 'oui', 'non', and 'merci'. The word 'délibérément' is quite advanced for this level. However, you can think of it as a very fancy way to say 'on purpose'. If you are playing a game and someone breaks a rule because they wanted to, they did it 'délibérément'. At this stage, you don't need to use this word in your own speaking, but if you see it in a book, just remember it means the person meant to do what they did. It is like the word 'exprès', which is much easier to say and use. For now, focus on the fact that French has many long words that end in '-ment'. These words usually describe *how* someone does something. If they do it with a plan, they do it délibérément.
At the A2 level, you are starting to describe people's intentions and actions in more detail. 'Délibérément' is an adverb that helps you explain that an action was not an accident. You might use it when talking about a character in a simple story or a news event you are discussing in class. For example, 'Il a délibérément cassé le vase' (He deliberately broke the vase). Notice how the word is placed after the verb. At this level, you should try to recognize the word family: 'délibérer' (to deliberate/think) and 'délibéré' (deliberate). It's a useful word for moving beyond basic descriptions and starting to talk about the 'why' behind people's behavior in a more formal way.
At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex social and professional situations. 'Délibérément' is a key vocabulary item for this stage because it allows you to express nuance. Instead of just saying someone did something 'on purpose' (exprès), you can now say they did it 'deliberately' (délibérément), which implies they thought about it first. This is very useful for writing essays or giving your opinion on a topic. You can use it to talk about government policies, environmental choices, or social issues. For instance, 'Certaines entreprises polluent délibérément pour réduire leurs coûts.' This shows you can distinguish between a mistake and a calculated choice. You should also practice placing it correctly in the passé composé: 'Ils ont délibérément choisi de partir.'
At the B2 level, you should be using 'délibérément' with confidence in both spoken and written French. You understand that this word carries a specific 'register'—it's more formal and precise than its synonyms. You can use it to debate complex topics, such as legal responsibility or ethical dilemmas. At this level, you should also be able to compare it with 'sciemment' (knowingly) or 'volontairement' (voluntarily). You might use it in a professional context to describe a business strategy: 'Nous avons délibérément ciblé un public plus jeune.' You are also aware of its placement for emphasis, perhaps occasionally starting a sentence with it to create a specific rhetorical effect in a presentation or a formal letter.
At the C1 level, 'délibérément' is a word you use to provide precision and stylistic flair. you understand the subtle implications it has regarding the 'will' of the subject. You might use it in literary analysis to describe an author's choice of style: 'L'auteur utilise délibérément un langage archaïque pour évoquer le passé.' You are also comfortable with the word in its various forms within the word family and can use related nouns like 'la délibération'. Your usage is perfectly idiomatic, and you know exactly when to use it versus 'de manière délibérée' or 'avec préméditation'. You can also detect when someone is using the word to subtly shift blame or highlight a specific intent in a political speech.
At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'délibérément'. You use it with an awareness of its etymological roots and its historical weight in the French language. You can use it in highly specialized fields like law, philosophy, or high-level diplomacy. You might engage in a discussion about 'l'acte délibéré' in existentialist philosophy or the 'délibérément' in a complex legal statute. You can play with the word's position in a sentence to achieve perfect prosody and rhythm in your writing. You are also sensitive to the irony that can be conveyed by using such a formal word in an informal context, and you can use it to create humor or sarcasm by over-emphasizing the intentionality of a trivial act.

délibérément في 30 ثانية

  • A formal adverb meaning 'deliberately' or 'on purpose'.
  • Implies careful thought and weighing of options before acting.
  • Commonly used in news, law, and formal writing.
  • Placed after the verb or between auxiliary and past participle.

The French adverb délibérément is a sophisticated way to describe an action performed with full intent and prior consideration. Rooted in the Latin deliberare, which evokes the image of weighing items on a scale (libra), the word suggests that before the action was taken, the person mentally 'weighed' the options and chose this specific path. Unlike the common word exprès, which is often used in casual settings (like a child saying 'I didn't do it on purpose!'), délibérément carries a weight of formality and conscious decision-making. It is frequently found in legal, journalistic, and literary contexts where the nuance of 'premeditation' or 'calculated choice' is essential.

Formal Intent
This word is used when you want to emphasize that an action was not just intentional, but calculated. For example, a politician might délibérément avoid a question to steer the conversation elsewhere.

L'accusé a délibérément ignoré les avertissements de sécurité avant l'incident.

In everyday professional life, you might use it to describe a strategy. If a company lowers its prices to drive out competition, they are acting délibérément. It implies a level of coldness or clinical precision that words like volontairement lack. While volontairement simply means you wanted to do it, délibérément suggests you thought about it, analyzed the consequences, and then proceeded. It is the difference between helping someone because you want to (volontairement) and choosing a specific, strategic moment to help them to maximize the impact (délibérément).

Social Nuance
In social settings, using this word can imply a slight accusation. If you say someone 'délibérément' forgot your birthday, you are suggesting they did it to hurt you or make a point, rather than just being forgetful.

Elle a choisi délibérément de ne pas répondre à son message pour tester sa patience.

Placement is key when using délibérément in French. As an adverb of manner, it typically follows the verb in simple tenses and is placed between the auxiliary and the past participle in compound tenses. This follows the standard rule for short and medium-length adverbs in French. For instance, in the present tense, you would say: 'Il agit délibérément' (He acts deliberately). In the passé composé, it becomes: 'Il a délibérément agi' (He acted deliberately).

Grammar Rule: Compound Tenses
Place the adverb after the auxiliary verb (avoir/être) and before the past participle. This emphasizes the intent behind the action.

Nous avons délibérément omis certains détails pour ne pas effrayer le public.

You can also place délibérément at the beginning of a sentence for dramatic emphasis, though this is more common in written French or formal oratory. For example: 'Délibérément, il s'est avancé vers le danger' (Deliberately, he stepped toward the danger). This structure forces the listener to focus on the mindset of the subject before hearing the action itself. Note that when placed at the start, it is often followed by a comma.

Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, the adverb usually follows 'pas'. Example: 'Il n'a pas délibérément provoqué cet accident.'

Le gouvernement ne cherche pas délibérément à nuire aux petites entreprises.

While you might not hear délibérément in a casual conversation at a café (where exprès or fait exprès is more likely), it is a staple of French media and professional discourse. If you watch the evening news (le JT), you will frequently hear journalists using it to describe the actions of political figures or corporations. It provides a level of objectivity while still conveying the seriousness of an intentional act.

Journalistic Context
Reporters use it to avoid legal trouble while implying intent. 'L'entreprise a délibérément caché les risques' sounds more professional than saying they lied.

Le ministre a délibérément choisi de ne pas commenter l'affaire en cours.

In French cinema and literature, délibérément is used to build character depth. It signifies a character who is in control, perhaps even manipulative. In a detective novel (un polar), a suspect might have délibérément left a clue to lead the police astray. In academic settings, particularly in philosophy or law, it is used to discuss the 'will' (la volonté) and the nature of human choice. If you are reading a French essay on ethics, this word will appear whenever the author discusses the moral responsibility of an agent.

Legal and Formal Speech
In a courtroom, a lawyer might argue that a crime was committed 'délibérément' to seek a harsher sentence for premeditation.

Cette stratégie a été délibérément conçue pour tromper les investisseurs.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make is using délibérément in contexts that are too informal. If you accidentally step on someone's foot and want to say 'I didn't do it on purpose,' saying 'Je ne l'ai pas fait délibérément' sounds like you are reading from a police report. It is too stiff for a quick apology. In that case, use 'Je ne l'ai pas fait exprès'. Reserve délibérément for situations that involve planning or serious consequences.

False Friend Alert
Do not confuse 'délibérément' with 'librement' (freely). While doing something deliberately implies you were free to choose, the words are not interchangeable.

Incorrect: J'ai délibérément marché au parc. (Unless you had a specific strategic reason to walk there!)

Another mistake involves the spelling. Remember the accent on the first 'e' (acute accent: é). Many learners forget this and write 'deliberement', which is incorrect. Also, notice the 'é' before the 'ment' suffix. Because the feminine form of the adjective is délibérée, the adverb keeps that 'é' sound. This is a common pattern for adverbs derived from adjectives ending in a vowel. Finally, ensure you don't use it as an adjective. If you want to say 'a deliberate choice,' you must use un choix délibéré (masculine) or une décision délibérée (feminine).

Preposition Pitfall
English speakers often try to say 'deliberately of' something. In French, délibérément is an adverb and doesn't take a preposition like 'de' or 'à'. It stands alone to modify the verb.

Il a délibérément saboté le projet pour se venger.

French offers several ways to express intentionality, each with a slightly different flavor. Understanding these nuances will make your French sound much more natural. While délibérément is the gold standard for calculated intent, you might choose sciemment if you want to emphasize that the person had full knowledge of the facts. Sciemment comes from the same root as 'science' (knowledge), so it implies 'knowingly'.

Sciemment vs. Délibérément
Use 'sciemment' for legal contexts involving knowledge of a crime. Use 'délibérément' for the act of choosing to do it anyway.

Il a sciemment menti au juge lors de son témoignage.

Another common alternative is volontairement. This is the most neutral term. It simply means the action was done by choice, not by accident or under duress. It is the opposite of involontairement. Then there is the casual exprès. You will hear this everywhere in daily life. If a friend spills water on you and you think they did it as a joke, you'd ask, 'Tu l'as fait exprès ?' (Did you do it on purpose?). You would almost never use délibérément in that casual context.

Intentionnellement
This is a very close synonym to délibérément. It is slightly more common in modern business French and sounds a bit less 'heavy' than délibérément.

L'arbitre a intentionnellement ignoré la faute pour laisser le jeu continuer.

حقيقة ممتعة

The 'libra' part is the same root as the zodiac sign Libra, which is represented by scales.

دليل النطق

UK /de.li.be.ʁe.mɑ̃/
US /de.li.be.ʁe.mɑ̃/
Stress is traditionally on the final syllable 'mɑ̃'.
يتقافى مع
vraiment tellement lentement évidemment probablement absolument entièrement facilement
أخطاء شائعة
  • Pronouncing the final 't'. It is silent.
  • Pronouncing 'ment' like 'mint'. It should be a nasal 'ah'.
  • Forgetting the acute accents (é) which change the vowel quality.
  • Making the 'r' too hard like an English 'r'.
  • Stressing the first syllable like in English 'DE-liberately'.

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Il a délibérément mangé mon gâteau.

He deliberately ate my cake.

The adverb follows the past participle here for simple emphasis, though middle placement is standard.

2

Elle marche délibérément lentement.

She walks deliberately slowly.

Adverbs can modify other adverbs like 'lentement'.

3

Ils ont délibérément fermé la porte.

They deliberately closed the door.

Between auxiliary and past participle.

4

Tu as délibérément oublié tes devoirs ?

Did you deliberately forget your homework?

Interrogative form with passé composé.

5

Le chat a délibérément poussé le verre.

The cat deliberately pushed the glass.

Subject + Auxiliary + Adverb + Past Participle.

6

Je ne l'ai pas fait délibérément.

I didn't do it deliberately.

Negative construction.

7

Il parle délibérément fort.

He speaks deliberately loudly.

Adverb modifying an adjective/adverb 'fort'.

8

Elle a délibérément choisi le rouge.

She deliberately chose the red one.

Passé composé with 'choisir'.

1

Le joueur a délibérément fait une faute.

The player deliberately committed a foul.

Common sports context for intent.

2

Nous avons délibérément évité la foule.

We deliberately avoided the crowd.

Use of 'éviter' (to avoid).

3

Il a délibérément cassé son jouet.

He deliberately broke his toy.

Action with a clear result.

4

Elle a délibérément ignoré mon salut.

She deliberately ignored my greeting.

Social interaction context.

5

Ils agissent délibérément contre les règles.

They are deliberately acting against the rules.

Present tense placement.

6

Le chef a délibérément ajouté trop de sel.

The chef deliberately added too much salt.

Intentional action in a process.

7

J'ai délibérément laissé la lumière allumée.

I deliberately left the light on.

Daily life context.

8

Il a délibérément pris le chemin le plus long.

He deliberately took the longest path.

Choice and deliberation.

1

L'entreprise a délibérément trompé ses clients.

The company deliberately deceived its customers.

Business/Ethical context.

2

Elle a délibérément omis de mentionner son passé.

She deliberately omitted to mention her past.

Use of 'omettre' (to omit).

3

Le réalisateur a délibérément créé une fin ambiguë.

The director deliberately created an ambiguous ending.

Artistic intent.

4

Il a délibérément saboté la machine pour arrêter la production.

He deliberately sabotaged the machine to stop production.

Complex intent with a goal (pour + infinitive).

5

Nous avons délibérément réduit notre consommation d'eau.

We deliberately reduced our water consumption.

Environmental/Social responsibility.

6

Il a délibérément provoqué une dispute lors du dîner.

He deliberately provoked an argument during dinner.

Interpersonal conflict.

7

Le témoin a délibérément caché la vérité au tribunal.

The witness deliberately hid the truth in court.

Legal context.

8

Elle a délibérément attendu le dernier moment pour partir.

She deliberately waited until the last moment to leave.

Temporal deliberation.

1

La stratégie consiste à délibérément sous-estimer les coûts.

The strategy consists of deliberately underestimating the costs.

Infinitive placement.

2

Il a délibérément enfreint la loi pour attirer l'attention.

He deliberately broke the law to attract attention.

Political/Social action.

3

Le gouvernement a délibérément retardé la publication du rapport.

The government deliberately delayed the publication of the report.

Political maneuvering.

4

Elle a délibérément cultivé une image de mystère.

She deliberately cultivated an image of mystery.

Self-presentation/Identity.

5

L'auteur a délibérément utilisé des métaphores complexes.

The author deliberately used complex metaphors.

Stylistic analysis.

6

Ils ont délibérément ignoré les protocoles de sécurité habituels.

They deliberately ignored the usual safety protocols.

Professional negligence.

7

Il a délibérément choisi de vivre en marge de la société.

He deliberately chose to live on the fringes of society.

Life choices/Philosophy.

8

Le musicien a délibérément désaccordé sa guitare pour cet effet.

The musician deliberately detuned his guitar for this effect.

Specific artistic technique.

1

Délibérément, il s'est engagé dans une voie sans issue.

Deliberately, he embarked on a dead-end path.

Sentence-initial placement for rhetorical effect.

2

Le discours était délibérément provocateur afin de susciter un débat.

The speech was deliberately provocative in order to spark a debate.

Adverb modifying an adjective.

3

Elle a délibérément brouillé les pistes pour échapper à ses poursuivants.

She deliberately blurred the trail to escape her pursuers.

Idiomatic expression 'brouiller les pistes'.

4

L'artiste a délibérément laissé son œuvre inachevée.

The artist deliberately left his work unfinished.

Aesthetic choice.

5

Il a délibérément occulté certains faits pour manipuler l'opinion.

He deliberately obscured certain facts to manipulate opinion.

High-level vocabulary 'occulter'.

6

La mise en scène délibérément sobre souligne la tragédie.

The deliberately sober staging highlights the tragedy.

Adverb + Adjective as a modifier for a noun phrase.

7

Il a délibérément rompu le silence après des années d'absence.

He deliberately broke the silence after years of absence.

Narrative/Emotional intent.

8

Le texte est délibérément ambigu, laissant place à l'interprétation.

The text is deliberately ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation.

Literary/Critical context.

1

Il s'agit d'une manœuvre délibérément orchestrée par l'opposition.

It is a maneuver deliberately orchestrated by the opposition.

Passive voice with an adverbial modifier.

2

L'architecte a délibérément intégré des éléments de rupture dans la façade.

The architect deliberately integrated elements of disruption into the facade.

Technical/Architectural intent.

3

Elle a délibérément fait fi des conventions sociales de son époque.

She deliberately flouted the social conventions of her time.

Idiom 'faire fi de' (to flout/ignore).

4

Le philosophe délibérément s'écarte de la doxa pour proposer une vision neuve.

The philosopher deliberately deviates from common opinion to propose a new vision.

Intellectual/Philosophical register.

5

Cette politique vise délibérément à démanteler les services publics.

This policy deliberately aims to dismantle public services.

Political critique.

6

Il a délibérément entretenu le flou autour de ses intentions réelles.

He deliberately maintained vagueness around his real intentions.

Metaphorical use of 'le flou'.

7

L'œuvre délibérément transgressive a suscité un tollé général.

The deliberately transgressive work sparked a general outcry.

Sociological/Artistic register.

8

Délibérément, elle a choisi le silence comme arme de résistance.

Deliberately, she chose silence as a weapon of resistance.

Rhetorical structure.

تلازمات شائعة

choisir délibérément
ignorer délibérément
mentir délibérément
omettre délibérément
provoquer délibérément
nuire délibérément
saboter délibérément
viser délibérément
tromper délibérément
ralentir délibérément

العبارات الشائعة

C'est délibéré.

— It's intentional. Used to confirm something wasn't an accident.

Ne t'inquiète pas pour le désordre, c'est délibéré.

Agir délibérément.

— To act with purpose. A standard way to describe intentional behavior.

Il faut agir délibérément pour réussir.

Un choix délibéré.

— A deliberate choice. Emphasizes that the decision was well-thought-out.

C'est un choix délibéré de sa part.

De manière délibérée.

— In a deliberate manner. An alternative to using the adverb.

Il a parlé de manière délibérée.

Rien n'est fait délibérément.

— Nothing is done on purpose. Often used as an excuse or defense.

Dans cette affaire, rien n'est fait délibérément.

Délibérément flou.

— Deliberately vague. Common in politics or creative writing.

Son programme est délibérément flou.

Délibérément provocateur.

— Deliberately provocative. Describes someone trying to get a reaction.

Son style est délibérément provocateur.

Délibérément simple.

— Deliberately simple. Used for design or communication.

Le logo est délibérément simple.

S'opposer délibérément.

— To deliberately oppose. Implies a conscious stance against something.

Il s'oppose délibérément à la réforme.

Vivre délibérément.

— To live deliberately. Inspired by Thoreau, living with intent.

Elle a décidé de vivre délibérément.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"De propos délibéré"

— With full intent and malice aforethought.

Il a commis ce crime de propos délibéré.

Formal/Legal
"Brouiller délibérément les cartes"

— To deliberately confuse a situation to hide the truth.

Le suspect a délibérément brouillé les cartes.

Neutral
"Faire délibérément la sourde oreille"

— To deliberately turn a deaf ear (ignore something).

Il a délibérément fait la sourde oreille à nos plaintes.

Neutral
"Mettre délibérément des bâtons dans les roues"

— To deliberately put a spoke in someone's wheel (sabotage).

Il nous a délibérément mis des bâtons dans les roues.

Informal
"Jouer délibérément avec le feu"

— To deliberately play with fire (take big risks).

En investissant tout, il joue délibérément avec le feu.

Neutral
"Passer délibérément sous silence"

— To deliberately pass over in silence (not mention).

Le rapport a délibérément passé sous silence les échecs.

Formal
"Prendre délibérément le contre-pied"

— To deliberately take the opposite view.

Il prend délibérément le contre-pied de ses collègues.

Neutral
"S'enfermer délibérément dans sa tour d'ivoire"

— To deliberately shut oneself in an ivory tower.

L'artiste s'est délibérément enfermé dans sa tour d'ivoire.

Literary
"Vendre délibérément la mèche"

— To deliberately let the cat out of the bag (betray a secret).

Il a délibérément vendu la mèche à la presse.

Informal
"Chercher délibérément la petite bête"

— To deliberately look for the 'little beast' (nitpick).

Il cherche délibérément la petite bête dans mon travail.

Informal

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

la délibération (deliberation/discussion)
le délibéré (the period of deliberation in court)

الأفعال

délibérer (to deliberate/consider)

الصفات

délibéré (deliberate - masculine)
délibérée (deliberate - feminine)

مرتبط

libre (free)
liberté (freedom)
libérer (to free)
libéral (liberal)
libération (liberation)

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of a 'DELI' where you 'BERATE' yourself about which 'MEN'tos to buy. You are weighing your options délibérément.

ربط بصري

Imagine a judge holding a pair of scales (Libra). He is weighing 'Intent' vs 'Accident'. The scale of intent is heavy.

Word Web

Intention Volonté Calcul Choix Plan Action Responsabilité Conscience

تحدٍّ

Try to use 'délibérément' in a sentence about a choice you made today, like choosing a specific coffee or a route to work.

أصل الكلمة

From the Latin 'deliberare', which means to consider carefully or consult.

المعنى الأصلي: Literally 'to weigh' (de- + librare, from libra 'scales').

Romance (Latin root).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when using this to describe others' mistakes, as it implies they did it on purpose and can be seen as an accusation.

English speakers often use 'deliberately' as a synonym for 'slowly', but in French, the focus is almost always on the intent, not the speed.

Sartre's discussions on 'l'engagement' often involve deliberate choices. Legal terms in the 'Code Pénal' use 'délibérément' to define specific levels of intent. Thoreau's 'Walden' (translated as 'Vivre délibérément') is a famous literary connection.
هل كان هذا مفيداً؟
لا توجد تعليقات بعد. كن أول من يشارك أفكاره!