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B1 verb 9 min de lectura

comprometer

Ejemplos comprometer en 30 segundos
Explicación comprometer in your Level:
At the A1 level, you likely won't use the verb 'compromettre' yourself, as it is quite advanced and formal. However, you might see its noun form 'un compromis' in very simple contexts about making a deal. For now, focus on simpler verbs like 'aider' (to help) or 'arrêter' (to stop). If you encounter 'compromettre', think of it as 'danger'. It's a word that describes when a plan goes wrong. At this stage, just recognize that it sounds like 'compromise' but usually has a bad meaning in French. You should focus on learning basic verbs like 'faire' and 'mettre' before tackling this complex one. Imagine you are playing a game; if you 'compromets' your game, you are going to lose. It's a 'red flag' word. Keep it in your passive vocabulary for now and don't worry about conjugating it yet. Most A1 textbooks will not include this word because its nuance as a 'false friend' is too confusing for absolute beginners. Just remember: 'Compromis' = okay/deal, 'Compromettre' = bad/danger. This simple distinction will save you from major confusion later on. As you progress, you will see how it fits into more complex sentences about work and school.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to describe problems and consequences. 'Compromettre' is a useful word for saying that something is putting your plans at risk. You might use it in a simple sentence like 'La pluie va compromettre notre pique-nique' (The rain is going to ruin/jeopardize our picnic). This is a great way to sound more sophisticated than just saying 'gâcher' (to ruin). You should also be aware that it conjugates just like 'mettre' (to put), which you likely already know. So, 'je compromets', 'tu compromets', etc. At this level, you should start to notice the difference between 'faire un compromis' (making a deal) and 'compromettre' (putting in danger). If you are talking to a friend about a project, you can use it to highlight a risk. 'Si on ne travaille pas, on va compromettre notre examen.' It adds a bit of seriousness to your speech. You are moving beyond basic survival French and into expressing more complex relationships between cause and effect. Practice using it with simple nouns like 'le voyage', 'la fête', or 'le match'. Remember the past participle is 'compromis', which looks like the noun for 'agreement', so context is everything! If someone says 'C'est compromis', they usually mean 'It's in trouble' or 'It's unlikely to happen now'.
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As a B1 learner, you are expected to handle more abstract topics and professional situations. 'Compromettre' is a 'must-know' word at this level because it appears frequently in news reports and formal discussions. You should be able to use it to describe how one action affects another negatively. For example, 'Cette erreur peut compromettre la sécurité du système.' You are also introduced to the reflexive form 'se compromettre'. This is crucial for understanding social and moral contexts. If you say 'Il s'est compromis', you are implying he did something that makes him look bad or guilty. This level is where the 'false friend' aspect becomes most dangerous. You must resist the urge to use 'compromettre' when you mean 'to reach a compromise'. Instead, use 'trouver un terrain d'entente' or 'faire un compromis'. At B1, you should also be comfortable using it in the passive voice: 'Son avenir est compromis'. This is a very common way to describe a situation that has become precarious. You can use it in your writing to show a higher level of vocabulary. Instead of 'C'est un problème', you can say 'Cela compromet le succès de l'opération'. This precision is what examiners look for in the DELF B1 exam. Focus on the 't' doubling in the plural forms (nous compromettons) to ensure your written French is accurate.
At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'compromettre' with nuance and precision in both formal and informal contexts. You understand that it carries a sense of 'implicating' someone or 'endangering' a situation. In a debate, you might use it to criticize an opponent's plan: 'Votre proposition risque de compromettre l'équilibre budgétaire de la région.' You are also expected to recognize its use in literary or journalistic styles, where it might describe a person's integrity being 'compromise' by their associations. You should be able to distinguish between 'transiger' (to compromise/negotiate) and 'compromettre' (to jeopardize) effortlessly. At this level, you can use the word to discuss complex themes like ethics, politics, and environmental risks. For instance, 'Le changement climatique compromet la biodiversité mondiale.' You should also be familiar with the noun 'compromission', which refers to a shameful compromise or a surrender of principles—very different from 'un compromis'. Using 'compromission' correctly shows a high level of linguistic maturity. Your ability to navigate these subtle differences—agreement vs. jeopardy vs. moral failing—is a hallmark of the B2 level. Practice using the verb in conditional sentences: 'Si nous ne réagissons pas maintenant, nous compromettrions l'ensemble de la stratégie.' This shows you can handle complex grammar alongside advanced vocabulary.
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For C1 learners, 'compromettre' is a tool for sophisticated analysis. You use it to describe the intricate ways in which variables interact in a system. You might discuss how a specific policy 'compromet la cohésion sociale' or how a legal loophole 'compromet l'équité du procès'. You are fully aware of the historical and legal roots of the word, including its rare usage in arbitration (le compromis d'arbitrage), though you know when to avoid it in favor of modern terms. You can use the reflexive 'se compromettre' to discuss political scandals or philosophical dilemmas with ease. Your vocabulary includes related terms like 'compromettant' (incriminating). For example, 'des preuves compromettantes' (incriminating evidence). You understand the stylistic weight of the word; it is often used to create a sense of impending doom or serious consequence in formal writing. In a professional setting, you might use it to provide a nuanced warning: 'Sans vouloir être alarmiste, je crains que ce retard ne compromette nos engagements contractuels.' This shows a mastery of tone. You are also able to critique the use of the word in others' speech, identifying when someone has used it as an anglicism and suggesting the more appropriate 'faire des concessions' or 'transiger'. Your grasp of the word is not just about definition, but about the cultural and stylistic baggage it carries in the French-speaking world.
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At the C2 level, you have a near-native command of 'compromettre'. You can play with its different meanings to create rhetorical effects. You might use it in a speech to highlight the irony of a situation: 'En voulant protéger sa réputation, il n'a fait que se compromettre davantage.' You understand the subtle differences between 'compromettre', 'obérer', 'grever', and 'hypothéquer'—all verbs that can mean to burden or jeopardize a future outcome in specific contexts (especially financial or legal). You can navigate the most formal academic or legal texts where 'compromettre' might appear in its archaic sense of 'submitting to judgment'. Your use of the word is perfectly integrated into complex syntactical structures, including the subjunctive mood after certain conjunctions: 'Bien que cela compromette nos bénéfices à court terme, c'est la seule voie éthique.' You are also sensitive to the 'compromis vs compromission' distinction, using the latter to describe political betrayals or moral failures with precise vitriol. In literature, you recognize how authors use the word to signal a character's 'point of no return'. Essentially, 'compromettre' is no longer a word you 'know'; it is a word you 'wield' with total control over its connotations, its history, and its impact on the listener or reader. You can even discuss the linguistics of the word itself, explaining to others how its meaning shifted so drastically from the Latin 'mutual promise' to the modern French 'jeopardy'.
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Ejemplos

comprometer en 30 segundos

  • Primary meaning is 'to jeopardize' or 'to endanger', not 'to reach an agreement'.
  • Conjugates like 'mettre' (je compromets, nous compromettons, j'ai compromis).
  • Reflexive form 'se compromettre' means to implicate oneself in a scandal.
  • Commonly used in formal, political, and professional contexts to discuss risks.

The French verb compromettre is a fascinating linguistic study because it serves as a primary example of a 'faux ami' (false friend) for English speakers, while also carrying deep semantic weight in legal, social, and political contexts. At its core, the word is derived from the Latin compromittere, which historically meant to make a mutual promise to abide by an arbiter's decision. In modern French, however, the usage has split into two distinct paths that every B1 learner must master to avoid significant misunderstandings.

Primary Meaning: To Jeopardize
In most everyday conversations, compromettre means to put something at risk, to endanger, or to jeopardize. When you 'compromets' your health, your reputation, or a project, you are creating a situation where the outcome is threatened by negative consequences.

Cette décision pourrait compromettre l'avenir de l'entreprise.

Translation: This decision could jeopardize the future of the company.

The second major usage is reflexive: se compromettre. This implies involving oneself in a compromising situation—usually something morally dubious or scandalous. If a politician is seen with a known criminal, they 'se compromettent'. Unlike the English 'to compromise' (meaning to reach a deal), the French reflexive form almost always carries a negative connotation of lost integrity or damaged reputation.

Legal Context
In very specific legal jargon, 'compromettre' can refer to the act of submitting a dispute to arbitration. This is the closest the verb gets to the 'mutual agreement' definition, but it is rarely used this way in casual speech.

Il ne veut pas se compromettre dans cette affaire louche.

Translation: He doesn't want to get involved (compromise himself) in this shady business.

Understanding the gravity of this word is key for B1 learners. It is not a 'soft' word. If you tell someone they have 'compromis' their chance of success, you are delivering serious news. It implies a point of no return or a significant hurdle that has been placed in the way of progress. In professional environments, it is often used during risk assessments or post-mortems of failed projects.

Social Nuance
Socially, saying 'Tu te compromets' is a warning. It suggests that the person's associations or actions are reflecting poorly on their character. It is a powerful tool for describing social dynamics and peer pressure in French literature and cinema.

Using compromettre correctly requires a grasp of its transitive and reflexive structures. Because it is a verb of action and consequence, it usually takes a direct object (the thing being jeopardized) or focuses on the subject's own integrity (reflexive). Let's explore the syntax and the emotional weight these structures carry in different scenarios.

Structure 1: Compromettre + Direct Object
This is the most common usage. The object is usually an abstract noun like 'chance', 'avenir', 'santé', or 'réussite'. It describes the act of making something vulnerable to failure.

Le manque de financement a fini par compromettre tout le projet de recherche.

Translation: The lack of funding ended up jeopardizing the entire research project.

Notice how the verb acts as a bridge between a cause (lack of funding) and a negative outcome. In this sense, it functions similarly to 'nuire à' (to harm) but with a stronger implication of total failure or permanent damage. It is frequently used in the passé composé to describe a completed action that has already caused harm: 'Il a compromis ses chances'.

Structure 2: Se compromettre (Reflexive)
When used reflexively, the subject is the one whose reputation is at stake. It often implies a choice to associate with something 'dirty' or 'scandalous'. It is very common in political journalism.

L'avocat a refusé de se compromettre en acceptant des pots-de-vin.

Translation: The lawyer refused to compromise himself by accepting bribes.

In this context, 'se compromettre' is almost synonymous with 'se mouiller' (to get one's hands dirty/get involved), but 'se compromettre' is more formal and focuses on the loss of honor. If you are writing a formal essay about ethics, this is the verb you want.

Structure 3: Compromettre + Person (Direct Object)
You can also 'compromettre' another person. This means you act in a way that makes them look guilty or suspicious. For example, if you mention a secret friend's name to the police, you have 'compromis' that friend.

Tes déclarations risquent de compromettre tes collaborateurs.

Translation: Your statements risk implicating/compromising your colleagues.

To truly master compromettre, one must listen for it in the specific environments where high stakes are discussed. It is not a word you would typically use while ordering a croissant, but it is ubiquitous in news broadcasts, corporate meetings, and dramatic storytelling. Here is where it lives in the francophone world.

In the News (La Politique et la Justice)
Open any French newspaper like Le Monde or Le Figaro, and you will see this word in headlines regarding scandals. If a minister is caught in a conflict of interest, the media will report that they are 'compromis dans une affaire'. It suggests that their position is no longer tenable because their integrity has been damaged.

Le ministre a démissionné après avoir été compromis dans un scandale financier.

Translation: The minister resigned after being implicated in a financial scandal.

In the corporate world, you will hear this during 'gestion des risques' (risk management) sessions. If a new competitor enters the market, a CEO might say that the company's market share is 'compromise'. It conveys a sense of urgency and threat. It is a professional way to say 'we are in trouble' without using slang.

In Literature and Film Noir
French cinema, especially 'le polar' (crime thrillers), uses 'se compromettre' to describe the moral descent of a protagonist. When a character makes a deal with the devil or a criminal underworld, they have 'compromis leur âme' (compromised their soul). It adds a layer of fatalism to the narrative.

Sa santé est compromise par son rythme de travail effréné.

Translation: His health is jeopardized by his frantic work pace.

Finally, in sports commentary, if a star player gets injured, the commentator will inevitably say: 'Cela pourrait compromettre les chances de victoire de l'équipe.' It is the go-to verb for describing a shift in momentum that favors failure. Listening for this word in radio broadcasts like France Info will help you hear it used in real-time context.

The biggest pitfall with compromettre is the 'Cognate Trap'. Because it looks exactly like the English 'compromise', English speakers often use it to mean 'reaching a middle ground'. However, in French, this can lead to confusing or even insulting situations. Let's break down the errors and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Using it for 'Agreement'
Incorrect: 'Nous devons nous compromettre sur le prix.' (This sounds like you want to do something shady with the price). Correct: 'Nous devons faire un compromis sur le prix' or 'Nous devons transiger'.

Attention : Dire 'Je me suis compromis' signifie 'J'ai fait quelque chose de mal', pas 'J'ai trouvé un accord'.

Another mistake involves the preposition. Unlike 'jeopardize' which is transitive, students sometimes try to add 'à' or 'de'. It is simply 'compromettre [quelque chose]'. For example, 'Il a compromis sa carrière' (He jeopardized his career), NOT 'Il a compromis à sa carrière'.

Mistake 2: Confusing 'Compromis' (Noun) and 'Compromis' (Past Participle)
The noun 'un compromis' DOES mean an agreement. The past participle 'compromis' means jeopardized. This creates a confusing overlap. 'C'est un bon compromis' (It's a good agreement) vs 'Le projet est compromis' (The project is jeopardized).

Le compromis est signé, mais la paix est encore compromise.

Translation: The agreement (noun) is signed, but peace is still jeopardized (past participle).

Finally, watch out for the spelling. Because it's related to 'mettre', many learners forget the double 't' in the present plural and infinitive forms. It is not 'comprometer' (that's Spanish) or 'comprometre' (missing a 't'). It is compromettre.

Depending on whether you want to convey 'danger' or 'agreement', you have several alternatives to compromettre. Choosing the right one will make your French sound more natural and precise.

To Jeopardize / Endanger
Mettre en péril: This is a very formal and strong alternative. Use it for high-stakes situations like national security or life-and-death matters. Nuire à: A softer version, meaning 'to harm' or 'to be detrimental to'.

Cette pollution met en péril l'écosystème local.

Translation: This pollution endangers the local ecosystem.

If you are looking for the 'agreement' side of things, here are your best bets:

To Reach an Agreement
Transiger: A sophisticated verb meaning to make concessions to end a dispute. Concilier: To find a way for two different things to exist together (e.g., concilier travail et famille). S'entendre: To come to an understanding.

Ils ont fini par s'entendre sur les termes du contrat.

Translation: They finally reached an understanding on the terms of the contract.

Comparison Table:

WordMeaningConnotation
CompromettreJeopardize / Stain reputationNegative
Faire un compromisReach agreementPositive/Neutral
Mettre en dangerPut in dangerUrgent/Negative
TransigerMake mutual concessionsFormal/Diplomatic
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Ejemplos por nivel

1

Ne compromets pas ton jeu.

Don't jeopardize your game.

Imperative form of 'compromettre'.

2

C'est un mauvais compromis.

It's a bad compromise/agreement.

Using the noun 'compromis'.

3

La pluie compromet la fête.

The rain is jeopardizing the party.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

4

Il ne veut pas compromettre son ami.

He doesn't want to jeopardize his friend.

Infinitive after 'veut'.

5

Le projet est compromis.

The project is jeopardized.

Passive voice with 'être'.

6

Elle compromet ses chances.

She is jeopardizing her chances.

Direct object 'ses chances'.

7

Nous ne voulons pas nous compromettre.

We don't want to involve ourselves in something bad.

Reflexive infinitive.

8

C'est compromis pour demain.

It's compromised/unlikely for tomorrow.

Adjectival use of the past participle.

1

Si tu arrives en retard, tu vas compromettre l'équipe.

If you arrive late, you are going to jeopardize the team.

Futur proche construction.

2

Sa santé est compromise par le stress.

His health is jeopardized by stress.

Agreement of the past participle with 'santé' (feminine).

3

Il s'est compromis dans une histoire de vol.

He got involved in a theft story.

Reflexive passé composé.

4

Ne laisse pas ce petit problème compromettre ton succès.

Don't let this small problem jeopardize your success.

Negative imperative with causative 'laisser'.

5

Ils ont compromis la mission par accident.

They jeopardized the mission by accident.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

6

Est-ce que cela va compromettre nos vacances ?

Is that going to jeopardize our vacation?

Interrogative with 'est-ce que'.

7

Elle ne veut pas se compromettre avec eux.

She doesn't want to get mixed up with them.

Reflexive with 'se'.

8

Le froid a compromis la récolte.

The cold jeopardized the harvest.

Subject-Verb-Object structure.

1

Une telle attitude pourrait compromettre votre avenir professionnel.

Such an attitude could jeopardize your professional future.

Conditional mood for possibility.

2

Le témoin a refusé de dire quoi que ce soit pour ne pas se compromettre.

The witness refused to say anything so as not to implicate himself.

Negative infinitive 'pour ne pas'.

3

L'absence de preuves compromet l'enquête policière.

The lack of evidence jeopardizes the police investigation.

Present tense verb.

4

Nous avons fait un compromis, mais la situation reste compromise.

We reached an agreement, but the situation remains jeopardized.

Contrast between noun and verb.

5

Il a peur que ce scandale ne compromette sa réélection.

He is afraid that this scandal might jeopardize his re-election.

Subjunctive mood after 'avoir peur que'.

6

Vous compromettez la sécurité de tout le bâtiment.

You are jeopardizing the security of the whole building.

Present tense, 2nd person plural (double t).

7

Ses liens avec la mafia l'ont définitivement compromis.

His ties to the mafia have definitely compromised him.

Direct object pronoun 'l''.

8

Le secret a été compromis par une fuite dans la presse.

The secret was compromised by a leak in the press.

Passive voice with agent 'par'.

1

Toute hésitation de notre part compromettrait la réussite de l'opération.

Any hesitation on our part would jeopardize the success of the operation.

Conditional present.

2

Il est dangereux de se compromettre dans des affaires dont on ne maîtrise pas les enjeux.

It is dangerous to get involved in matters where you don't control the stakes.

Reflexive infinitive with 'dont' clause.

3

La pollution sonore compromet gravement la qualité de vie des riverains.

Noise pollution seriously jeopardizes the quality of life of local residents.

Adverbial modification 'gravement'.

4

Les récentes révélations ont compromis l'intégrité du processus électoral.

Recent revelations have compromised the integrity of the electoral process.

Passé composé with abstract object.

5

Bien qu'il ait essayé de se justifier, il reste compromis aux yeux du public.

Although he tried to justify himself, he remains compromised in the eyes of the public.

Subjunctive 'ait essayé' and passive state.

6

On ne peut pas compromettre les principes fondamentaux pour un profit immédiat.

We cannot compromise fundamental principles for immediate profit.

Modal verb 'peut' + infinitive.

7

Sa position au sein du conseil est désormais compromise.

His position on the board is now compromised.

Adverb 'désormais'.

8

L'utilisation de ce logiciel pourrait compromettre vos données personnelles.

Using this software could jeopardize your personal data.

Conditional for potential risk.

1

L'obstination du gouvernement risque de compromettre durablement le dialogue social.

The government's stubbornness risks jeopardizing social dialogue in the long term.

Verbal phrase 'risquer de'.

2

Il s'est compromis par des accointances peu recommandables avec le milieu criminel.

He compromised himself through unsavory connections with the criminal underworld.

Reflexive with 'par' indicating means.

3

Ce vice de forme est susceptible de compromettre la validité de l'acte juridique.

This procedural defect is likely to jeopardize the validity of the legal act.

Adjective phrase 'susceptible de'.

4

On ne saurait compromettre l'avenir des générations futures pour des gains éphémères.

One cannot jeopardize the future of future generations for fleeting gains.

Formal 'on ne saurait' (cannot).

5

Sa crédibilité en tant qu'expert a été compromise par ses conflits d'intérêts.

His credibility as an expert was compromised by his conflicts of interest.

Passive voice with plural agent.

6

Il est impératif que nous ne compromettions pas l'unité du groupe en cette période de crise.

It is imperative that we do not jeopardize the unity of the group in this crisis period.

Subjunctive present (nous form).

7

Les aveux de son complice l'ont lourdement compromis lors du procès.

His accomplice's confession heavily implicated him during the trial.

Adverbial placement 'lourdement'.

8

Cette réforme, si elle est mal appliquée, pourrait compromettre l'accès aux soins.

This reform, if poorly applied, could jeopardize access to care.

Conditional with 'si' clause.

1

L'intrigue se noue autour d'un document qui pourrait compromettre les plus hautes sphères de l'État.

The plot centers around a document that could implicate the highest levels of the state.

Relative clause 'qui pourrait'.

2

Il s'agit de ne pas compromettre, par une hâte excessive, le travail de plusieurs décennies.

It is a matter of not jeopardizing, through excessive haste, the work of several decades.

Negative infinitive 'ne pas compromettre'.

3

Sa réputation, bien que jadis sans tache, se trouve désormais irrémédiablement compromise.

His reputation, though once spotless, is now irremediably compromised.

Reflexive 'se trouver' used as a state.

4

Toute velléité de résistance risquerait de compromettre la trêve fragile qui vient d'être signée.

Any hint of resistance would risk jeopardizing the fragile truce that has just been signed.

Noun 'velléité' (slightest intention).

5

Les atermoiements de la direction finissent par compromettre la confiance des investisseurs.

The management's procrastination is ending up jeopardizing investor confidence.

Present tense with 'finir par'.

6

Peut-on réellement transiger sans se compromettre moralement ?

Can one really compromise (reach agreement) without compromising oneself morally?

Contrast between 'transiger' and 'se compromettre'.

7

L'émergence de ces nouveaux variants compromet l'espoir d'une sortie de crise rapide.

The emergence of these new variants jeopardizes the hope for a quick exit from the crisis.

Scientific/Formal context.

8

Il a été compromis par des documents exhumés des archives des services secrets.

He was compromised by documents unearthed from the secret service archives.

Passive voice with past participle agreement.

Colocaciones comunes

Compromettre l'avenir
Compromettre ses chances
Compromettre la sécurité
Se compromettre sérieusement
Documents compromettants
Compromettre la réussite
Compromettre gravement
Compromettre l'équilibre
Compromettre son honneur
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