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émerveiller

A2 verb 12 min read

émerveiller

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips émerveiller in 30 Seconds

Explanation émerveiller in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'émerveiller' might seem like a difficult word, but you can understand it as a very strong version of 'aimer' (to love) or 'trouver beau' (to find beautiful). When you see something that is more than just 'nice'—like a beautiful Christmas tree or a big cake—you can say it is 'super' or 'magnifique'. 'Émerveiller' is the verb for that feeling. You won't use it often yet, but you might see it in simple stories or fairy tales. Imagine a child seeing snow for the first time; they are 'émerveillés'. Just remember: it's about being very, very happy and surprised by something beautiful. You can think of it as the 'wow' word. Even at A1, knowing that 'émerveiller' means 'to fill with wonder' helps you recognize it in songs or simple books. It's a positive word, so if you hear it, something good is happening! Try to remember the phrase 'C'est merveilleux' (It's marvelous), which comes from the same root. This will help you connect the verb to the feeling of wonder.

At the A2 level, you should start recognizing 'émerveiller' in its reflexive form: 's'émerveiller'. This is very useful for talking about your travels or hobbies. For example, if you go to Paris, you can say 'Je m'émerveille devant la Tour Eiffel.' This sounds much more advanced than just saying 'J'aime la Tour Eiffel.' At this level, you are learning to express more complex emotions. 'Émerveiller' helps you describe that specific feeling of being impressed by beauty. You should also notice how it ends in '-er', so it conjugates just like 'parler' or 'manger'. Practice saying 'Ça m'émerveille' (That amazes me) when you see something beautiful in nature or a great piece of art. It's a great way to add flavor to your descriptions. You might also encounter the past participle 'émerveillé' used as an adjective, like 'Je suis émerveillé par ce film.' Remember to add an 'e' if you are a woman: 'Je suis émerveillée.' This level is all about using the word to describe your personal reactions to the world.

By B1, you are expected to use 'émerveiller' more precisely and understand its different constructions. You should be comfortable using 's'émerveiller de' for abstract things and 's'émerveiller devant' for physical sights. For instance, 'Je m'émerveille de sa patience' vs 'Je m'émerveille devant ce paysage.' At this level, you can also use the word to discuss literature or cultural experiences in more detail. You understand that 'émerveiller' is a transitive verb, meaning it can take a direct object: 'Ce spectacle a émerveillé tout le public.' You are also beginning to see the difference between 'émerveiller' and 'étonner'. While 'étonner' is just surprise, 'émerveiller' is surprise mixed with deep admiration. This nuance is important for your speaking exams (like the DELF B1), where expressing specific emotions can get you higher marks. You can also start using the noun 'émerveillement' (wonderment) to describe the concept itself. 'L'émerveillement est nécessaire au bonheur.' Using the word in this way shows a deeper grasp of French vocabulary and thought.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'émerveiller' in formal writing and debates. You might use it to discuss the importance of art in society or the impact of scientific discoveries. For example, 'Les découvertes spatiales continuent d'émerveiller l'humanité.' You understand the register of the word—it is somewhat elevated and poetic. You can use it to create a specific atmosphere in your essays. You should also be aware of its derivatives and related words, such as 'émerveillable' (capable of being amazed, though rare) or the adjective 'merveilleux'. At B2, you can use the verb in more complex grammatical structures, like the subjunctive or the conditional: 'Il faudrait que nous sachions encore nous émerveiller.' You are also capable of using the word ironically or in metaphors. For instance, you might discuss how a political speech 'émerveille' only those who are already convinced, suggesting a sense of enchantment that blinds one to reality. This level requires you to understand not just the definition, but the 'vibe' and the weight the word carries in a text.

For C1 learners, 'émerveiller' is a tool for stylistic precision. You should be able to distinguish it from a dozen other synonyms like 'subjuguer', 'ébahir', 'stupéfier', or 'transir'. You use 'émerveiller' when you want to emphasize the aesthetic or spiritual quality of the wonder. In a literary analysis, you might discuss how an author uses the 'merveilleux' to 'émerveiller le lecteur' and transport them to another world. You understand the historical roots of the word and how it relates to the 'Merveilleux' literary movement. Your usage should be flawless, including the correct choice of prepositions and the correct agreement of past participles in complex sentences. You might use the verb to describe the 'effet d'émerveillement' in cinema or theater. At this level, you can also explore the philosophical implications of the word—how 's'émerveiller' is seen by some philosophers as the beginning of wisdom or the first step in scientific inquiry. Your ability to integrate 'émerveiller' into a sophisticated discourse on aesthetics or psychology is a hallmark of C1 proficiency.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native mastery of 'émerveiller'. You can use it with all its subtle connotations in any context, from a formal academic paper on Baroque art to a poetic personal essay. You understand its place in the history of the French language and how its usage has evolved. You can play with the word, perhaps using it in a self-reflexive way to discuss the beauty of the French language itself: 'La structure de cette phrase m'émerveille par sa clarté.' You are comfortable with archaic or highly literary forms of the word if you encounter them in classical texts. You can also use the word to critique modern life, perhaps arguing that our society has lost the capacity to 's'émerveiller' due to the constant bombardment of digital stimuli. Your use of 'émerveiller' is not just about communication; it's about nuance, tone, and the evocation of specific emotional states. You can use it to persuade, to paint a picture, or to evoke a shared sense of humanity. At this level, the word is part of your 'palette' for creating rich, textured, and deeply resonant French prose.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

émerveiller in 30 Seconds

A verb meaning 'to fill with wonder' or 'to amaze'.
Primarily used for positive, beautiful, or extraordinary experiences.
Commonly used reflexively: 's'émerveiller de' (to marvel at).
Stronger and more emotional than the simple verb 'surprendre'.

The French verb émerveiller is a powerful and evocative term that goes far beyond the simple English verb 'to surprise.' At its core, it describes the act of filling someone with a profound sense of wonder, admiration, or enchantment. When you use this word, you are suggesting that the subject is not just noticing something interesting, but is being deeply moved by its beauty, brilliance, or extraordinary nature. It is a word rooted in the concept of the 'marvel' (merveille), suggesting a magical or nearly supernatural quality to the experience. In contemporary French, it is frequently used to describe the reactions of children to the world around them, the impact of a breathtaking landscape, or the feeling one gets when witnessing a masterwork of art. Unlike 'surprendre' (to surprise), which can be neutral or even negative, émerveiller is almost exclusively positive, carrying a sense of joy and intellectual or emotional elevation.

Emotional Depth: This verb captures a state of being struck by beauty so intense that it transcends ordinary logic or expectation.

La complexité de l'univers ne cesse d'émerveiller les astronomes qui passent leurs nuits à observer les galaxies lointaines.

One of the most common ways you will encounter this word is in its reflexive form, s'émerveiller. This reflexive construction shifts the focus to the person experiencing the wonder. For example, 's'émerveiller de la nature' means to marvel at nature. It implies an active engagement with the world—a choice to remain open to the beauty of small things. This is often described as 'garder son âme d'enfant' (keeping one's child-like soul), the ability to find wonder in things that adults might take for granted. Whether it is the first snowfall of the year or the intricate patterns on a butterfly's wing, émerveiller is the verb that bridges the gap between the observer and the extraordinary.

Artistic Context: In the world of theater, music, and fine arts, this verb is used to describe the intended effect of a masterpiece on its audience.

Il est important de savoir encore s'émerveiller des plaisirs simples de la vie quotidienne.

Furthermore, the word is often used in literary and formal contexts to discuss the sublime. When a philosopher or a poet speaks of being 'émerveillé' by existence, they are touching upon a sense of existential gratitude. It is not merely a cognitive surprise but a spiritual or emotional response to the grandeur of life. In a world that can often feel cynical or mundane, using the word émerveiller signals a refusal to be jaded. It is a word of light, clarity, and positive shock. You might hear it in a documentary about the deep sea, in a review of a stunning new film, or in a heartfelt conversation about a personal achievement that seemed impossible until it was realized.

Childhood Wonder: Children have a natural capacity to 's'émerveiller' because every experience is new and potentially magical to them.

Le jeune enfant s'émerveille devant les bulles de savon qui flottent dans les airs.

Les innovations technologiques de cette décennie continuent d'émerveiller le grand public par leur ingéniosité.

Elle a été émerveillée par la générosité dont ses voisins ont fait preuve après l'accident.

Using émerveiller correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical structures. As a regular -er verb, it follows standard conjugation patterns, but its syntax changes depending on whether it is used transitively or reflexively. In its transitive form, the thing that causes the wonder is the subject, and the person feeling the wonder is the direct object. For example, 'Cette vue m'émerveille' (This view fills me with wonder). Here, the view is doing the action of 'wonder-filling' to 'me'. This structure is very common when describing events, performances, or natural phenomena that have a striking impact on an audience.

Transitive Structure: Subject (The Cause) + émerveiller + Object (The Person). Example: Le talent de ce pianiste émerveille tout le monde.

Les couleurs vives de l'automne émerveillent les randonneurs chaque année.

The reflexive form, s'émerveiller, is perhaps even more frequent in daily conversation. It translates to 'to marvel at' or 'to be filled with wonder by.' When using the reflexive form, you typically need a preposition. The most common prepositions are de (of/at) and devant (before/at). 'Je m'émerveille de son courage' (I marvel at his courage) or 'Il s'émerveille devant le Louvre' (He marvels before the Louvre). Choosing 'devant' often implies a physical presence in front of something grand, while 'de' is more general and can apply to abstract concepts or qualities.

Reflexive Prepositions: Use 'de' for qualities or abstract items, and 'devant' for physical objects or sights you are looking at.

Nous nous sommes émerveillés devant la clarté du ciel étoilé hier soir.

When using the passive voice, which is quite common with this verb, you would say 'être émerveillé par' (to be amazed by). This emphasizes the state of the person. 'Elle est émerveillée par les progrès de son fils.' Note that because 'émerveillé' acts as an adjective here, it must agree in gender and number with the subject (émerveillé, émerveillée, émerveillés, émerveillées). This nuance is vital for writing correctly in French, as it shows the result of the action rather than the action itself. It is a state of mind, often lasting longer than a fleeting surprise.

Passive Agreement: Ensure the past participle 'émerveillé' agrees with the subject when used with 'être'.

Les touristes sont tout à fait émerveillés par l'architecture médiévale de la ville.

Est-ce que tu t'émerveilles encore des couchers de soleil après toutes ces années ?

La voix de la soprano a émerveillé l'auditoire dès les premières notes.

In everyday French life, émerveiller appears in specific contexts where beauty and emotion intersect. You will frequently hear it in cultural programs on television or radio, especially when critics are discussing a new exhibition at the Grand Palais or a breakthrough in French cinema. It is a favorite word of art historians and travel guides who want to convey the 'wow factor' of a site like Mont Saint-Michel or the Palace of Versailles. In these instances, the word serves to elevate the subject, suggesting that it is not merely 'good' but truly exceptional and worthy of deep contemplation. It suggests a level of quality that commands respect and awe.

Cultural Commentary: Used by critics and enthusiasts to describe high-quality artistic or architectural achievements.

À la radio, le critique a déclaré que ce nouveau film émerveillera même les plus sceptiques.

Another common setting is within family life and education. French parents and teachers often use the reflexive form s'émerveiller to describe a child's learning process. When a baby first discovers their reflection or a toddler sees a ladybug, the parent might say, 'Regarde comme il s'émerveille !' This usage highlights the purity and curiosity of childhood. In educational literature, there is often a focus on teaching children to 's'émerveiller de la nature' as a way to foster environmental awareness and a love for science. It is seen as a vital human capacity that should be protected from the dulling effects of routine and technology.

Family and Education: Commonly used to describe the innocent and joyous discovery of the world by young children.

Les contes de fées sont écrits pour émerveiller l'imagination des petits et des grands.

You will also find this word in the realm of high technology and science. When a new telescope sends back images of deep space, or when a surgeon performs a miracle with robotic assistance, journalists will use émerveiller to describe the public's reaction. It captures the feeling of standing at the edge of human knowledge and seeing something previously invisible. In this context, it is a word of progress and hope. It suggests that despite all our problems, the world still has the power to surprise us with its beauty and complexity. It is a very 'human' reaction to the 'superhuman' capabilities of science and nature.

Scientific Wonder: Describing the awe felt when witnessing technological breakthroughs or natural phenomena.

Le public s'est laissé émerveiller par la démonstration de réalité virtuelle au salon de la technologie.

Il n'y a rien de plus beau que de voir un étudiant s'émerveiller devant une équation mathématique parfaite.

Le jardin de Giverny continue d'émerveiller des milliers de visiteurs chaque printemps.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with émerveiller is confusing it with the English word 'to marvel' in terms of syntax. In English, we 'marvel at' something. In French, you must decide between the transitive 'émerveiller quelque chose/quelqu'un' and the reflexive 's'émerveiller de/devant'. A common error is saying 'émerveiller à', which is incorrect. Another mistake is using 'émerveiller' for small, mundane surprises. If you just found five euros in your pocket, you are 'surpris' or 'content', but you are probably not 'émerveillé'. Using such a strong word for a minor event can sound melodramatic or sarcastic to a native speaker.

Preposition Errors: Incorrect: Je m'émerveille à la vue. Correct: Je m'émerveille de la vue or devant la vue.

Ne dites pas : 'Je suis émerveillé que le bus soit à l'heure.' C'est trop fort !

Another nuanced mistake involves the confusion between émerveiller and étonner. While both involve surprise, 'étonner' is much closer to 'to astonish' or 'to shock' and can be used for both positive and negative things. You can be 'étonné' by someone's rudeness, but you can never be 'émerveillé' by it. Émerveiller always implies a sense of beauty or positive value. If you use 'émerveiller' to describe something shocking or bad, you are using it ironically, which might be misunderstood if your tone of voice doesn't match. Always ensure the context is one of admiration.

Positive vs. Neutral: émerveiller = wonder + beauty (positive). étonner = surprise + shock (neutral/negative/positive).

Il ne faut pas confondre 'émerveiller' avec 'éblouir', qui signifie souvent être aveuglé par une lumière trop forte ou par le luxe.

Finally, learners often forget the agreement of the past participle when using 'émerveiller' as an adjective with 'être'. Because it describes a state, it behaves like an adjective. 'Elle est émerveillée' (feminine singular), 'Ils sont émerveillés' (masculine plural). Forgetting that extra 'e' or 's' in writing is a very common A2/B1 level error. Also, remember that 'émerveiller' is a transitive verb, so you shouldn't use a preposition if it's the subject doing the action to an object: 'Le film m'émerveille' (Correct) vs 'Le film m'émerveille de' (Incorrect).

Agreement Check: Always check the gender and number of the person who is 'émerveillé'.

Ma sœur était tout à fait émerveillée par son cadeau d'anniversaire.

Nous avons été émerveillés par la qualité du service dans ce restaurant.

Attention à ne pas utiliser 'émerveiller' pour des choses effrayantes ; utilisez plutôt 'épouvanter'.

When you want to express wonder but 'émerveiller' doesn't quite fit the tone or intensity, French offers a rich palette of alternatives. Enchanter is a close relative, often used when something is delightful or charming rather than grandly awe-inspiring. If someone says 'Je suis enchanté par votre proposition,' they are very pleased and charmed. Ravir is another excellent choice, which carries a sense of intense joy and satisfaction. To be 'ravi' is to be delighted, often by a piece of news or a kind gesture. It is slightly less 'magical' than 'émerveiller' but equally positive and very common in polite conversation.

émerveiller vs. enchanter: émerveiller: focus on awe and wonder (stronger). enchanter: focus on delight and charm (softer).

La musique de Mozart enchante les oreilles des mélomanes depuis des siècles.

For a stronger, more physical sense of being overwhelmed, you might use éblouir. This literally means to dazzle or blind with light, but metaphorically it means to impress someone so much they are 'blinded' by your talent or beauty. If a gymnast performs a perfect routine, they 'éblouissent' the judges. On the other hand, subjuguer implies a sense of being conquered or held captive by something's power or beauty. It is more intense and suggests the observer has lost their ability to look away. These words add different shades of intensity to the basic concept of wonder.

émerveiller vs. éblouir: émerveiller: emotional and spiritual wonder. éblouir: brilliant, dazzling, and often visual impression.

Ses résultats aux examens ont époustouflé tous ses professeurs.

Lastly, if the focus is more on the surprise element without necessarily the beauty, stupéfier or méduser are good options. These words describe being 'stunned' or 'petrified' with amazement. They are often used when something is so unexpected that you cannot speak or move. While 'émerveiller' leaves you in a state of happy wonder, 'stupéfier' leaves you in a state of shock. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the exact word that matches the emotional landscape of your sentence, making your French sound much more natural and precise.

émerveiller vs. stupéfier: émerveiller: wonder + joy. stupéfier: surprise + total shock (can be neutral or negative).

La nouvelle de sa démission a stupéfié ses collègues de bureau.

Le magicien a émerveillé les enfants avec ses tours de cartes incroyables.

On peut s'émerveiller de la force de caractère de ceux qui surmontent des épreuves.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root of 'émerveiller' is the same as 'mirror' (miroir) and 'admire' (admirer), all relating to the act of looking or seeing something extraordinary.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /e.mɛʁ.vɛ.je/

US /e.mɛʁ.ve.je/

In French, the stress is generally on the last syllable: e-mer-vei-LLER.

Rhymes With

réveiller conseiller travailler habiller briller surveiller appareiller oreiller

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'll' like an English 'l'. In French 'eiller', the 'll' creates a 'y' sound.
Forgetting the initial 'é' sound and starting with 'e'.
Over-pronouncing the final 'r' in the infinitive (it should be silent).
Confusing the 'v' with a 'b' sound (common for some language backgrounds).
Mixing up the 'é' and 'è' sounds in the middle of the word.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to its similarity to 'marvel'.

Writing 3/5

Requires attention to the 'll' spelling and reflexive prepositions.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of 'eiller' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Distinctive sound makes it relatively easy to catch.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

beau surprendre regarder aimer voir

Learn Next

éblouir ravir enchanter stupéfier subjuguer

Advanced

le merveilleux la contingence le sublime l'esthétique la virtuosité

Grammar to Know

Reflexive verbs in Passé Composé use 'être'.

Elle s'est émerveillée.

Direct object pronouns go before the verb.

Cela m'émerveille.

Agreement of the past participle with 'être'.

Elles sont émerveillées.

Infinitive after prepositions like 'de' or 'pour'.

Il a tout pour émerveiller.

Verbs of emotion can trigger the subjunctive.

Je m'émerveille qu'il soit là.

Examples by Level

Ce cadeau va émerveiller la petite fille.

This gift is going to amaze the little girl.

Future proche with 'aller' + infinitive.

Le gâteau émerveille les enfants.

The cake amazes the children.

Present tense, third person plural.

C'est beau, ça m'émerveille !

It's beautiful, it amazes me!

Use of the direct object pronoun 'm''.

Les lumières de Noël nous émerveillent.

The Christmas lights amaze us.

Subject-verb agreement with 'nous'.

Le petit garçon s'émerveille devant le chien.

The little boy is amazed by the dog.

Reflexive verb 's'émerveiller'.

Regarde le ciel, il peut t'émerveiller.

Look at the sky, it can amaze you.

Modal verb 'pouvoir' + infinitive.

Elle veut émerveiller ses amis avec un tour.

She wants to amaze her friends with a trick.

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

Je suis émerveillé par les fleurs.

I am amazed by the flowers.

Passive construction with 'être'.

Nous nous émerveillons de la beauté de la mer.

We marvel at the beauty of the sea.

Reflexive 'nous nous' + 'de'.

Le spectacle de cirque a émerveillé tout le village.

The circus show amazed the whole village.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Tu t'émerveilles toujours devant les mêmes films.

You are always amazed by the same movies.

Reflexive 'tu t'' + 'devant'.

Elle s'est émerveillée en voyant la neige tomber.

She was filled with wonder seeing the snow fall.

Reflexive passé composé with 'être'.

Ces photos de voyage vont vous émerveiller.

These travel photos will amaze you.

Direct object 'vous'.

Ils s'émerveillent de chaque petit progrès de leur bébé.

They marvel at every little progress of their baby.

Reflexive plural form.

Le jardinier s'émerveille devant ses premières roses.

The gardener marvels at his first roses.

Singular reflexive.

Je m'émerveille que tu sois déjà là !

I'm amazed that you're already here!

Followed by a 'que' clause (note: often triggers subjunctive).

L'architecte a su émerveiller les citadins avec ce parc.

The architect knew how to amaze the city dwellers with this park.

Use of 'savoir' to indicate ability.

Il est rare de s'émerveiller de choses aussi simples.

It is rare to marvel at things so simple.

Impersonal construction 'Il est [adjective] de'.

Les enfants se sont émerveillés devant le feu d'artifice.

The children marveled at the fireworks.

Reflexive passé composé plural agreement.

Cette musique m'émerveille à chaque fois que je l'écoute.

This music amazes me every time I listen to it.

Frequency expression 'à chaque fois que'.

Elle s'émerveillait de la gentillesse des inconnus.

She used to marvel at the kindness of strangers.

Imparfait for habitual action.

On s'émerveille souvent de ce qu'on ne comprend pas.

We often marvel at what we do not understand.

Pronoun 'on' + 'de ce que'.

Le guide a émerveillé les touristes avec ses histoires.

The guide amazed the tourists with his stories.

Transitive use.

S'émerveiller est le premier pas vers la connaissance.

To marvel is the first step toward knowledge.

Infinitive as a subject.

L'écrivain cherche à émerveiller son lecteur par son style.

The writer seeks to amaze his reader through his style.

Verb 'chercher à' + infinitive.

Nous devrions plus souvent nous émerveiller du monde qui nous entoure.

We should more often marvel at the world around us.

Conditional 'devrions' + reflexive.

Elle fut émerveillée par la profondeur de ses propos.

She was amazed by the depth of his remarks.

Passé simple (literary) + passive.

Le progrès technique ne doit pas nous empêcher de nous émerveiller.

Technical progress must not prevent us from marveling.

Negative construction 'ne... pas empêcher de'.

Il s'émerveille que la nature reprenne ses droits si vite.

He marvels that nature takes back its rights so quickly.

Subjunctive 'reprenne' after 's'émerveiller que'.

Sa capacité à s'émerveiller de tout est sa plus grande force.

His ability to marvel at everything is his greatest strength.

Noun 'capacité' + 'à' + infinitive.

Les spectateurs furent émerveillés par la virtuosité du soliste.

The spectators were amazed by the soloist's virtuosity.

Plural agreement in passive voice.

Je m'émerveille de voir à quel point elle a grandi.

I marvel to see how much she has grown.

Reflexive + 'de' + infinitive.

Le philosophe s'émerveille de la contingence de l'être.

The philosopher marvels at the contingency of being.

High-level philosophical vocabulary.

L'œuvre parvient à émerveiller sans jamais tomber dans le kitsch.

The work manages to amaze without ever falling into kitsch.

Preposition 'sans' + infinitive.

Il s'émerveillait que l'on pût encore découvrir de nouvelles espèces.

He marveled that one could still discover new species.

Imparfait du subjonctif (literary).

L'éclat de son génie ne cessait d'émerveiller ses contemporains.

The brilliance of his genius never ceased to amaze his contemporaries.

Negative 'ne... cesser de'.

S'émerveiller devant le sublime est une expérience transcendantale.

Marveling at the sublime is a transcendental experience.

Abstract philosophical subject.

Elle s'émerveille de la finesse avec laquelle le poète manie les mots.

She marvels at the finesse with which the poet handles words.

Relative clause 'avec laquelle'.

On ne saurait s'émerveiller de ce qui est devenu banal.

One cannot marvel at what has become mundane.

Formal 'ne saurait' + infinitive.

L'enfant s'émerveille du monde, tandis que l'adulte l'analyse.

The child marvels at the world, while the adult analyzes it.

Contrast using 'tandis que'.

Il s'émerveille de la corrélation entre les mathématiques et la musique.

He marvels at the correlation between mathematics and music.

Abstract academic context.

L'esthète s'émerveille devant la patine du temps sur les vieux murs.

The aesthete marvels at the patina of time on old walls.

Specific vocabulary like 'esthète' and 'patine'.

Peut-on encore s'émerveiller dans un monde régi par l'algorithme ?

Can one still marvel in a world governed by the algorithm?

Rhetorical question in formal register.

Sa prose, d'une richesse inouïe, ne manque pas d'émerveiller l'érudit.

His prose, of incredible richness, does not fail to amaze the scholar.

Double negative 'ne manque pas d''.

Elle s'émerveillait de l'indicible beauté des aurores boréales.

She marveled at the unspeakable beauty of the northern lights.

Use of the adjective 'indicible'.

L'artiste a pour ambition d'émerveiller par-delà les frontières culturelles.

The artist's ambition is to amaze across cultural borders.

Prepositional phrase 'par-delà'.

S'émerveiller, c'est reconnaître une part de sacré dans le profane.

To marvel is to recognize a part of the sacred in the profane.

Definition-style sentence.

Il s'émerveillait de la résilience dont l'esprit humain est capable.

He marveled at the resilience of which the human spirit is capable.

Relative clause 'dont'.

Common Collocations

émerveiller la foule

s'émerveiller d'un rien

émerveiller les yeux

s'émerveiller de la nature

émerveiller le public

continuer d'émerveiller

s'émerveiller devant le progrès

ne plus s'émerveiller

émerveiller par sa beauté

s'émerveiller de la vie

Common Phrases

C'est à s'émerveiller !

— It's something to marvel at! Used to express strong positive surprise.

Regarde cette vue, c'est à s'émerveiller !

Se laisser émerveiller

— To allow oneself to be filled with wonder.

Il faut savoir se laisser émerveiller par l'imprévu.

Émerveiller les sens

— To delight all the senses (sight, sound, etc.).

Cette cuisine émerveille les sens.

S'émerveiller de tout

— To find wonder in everything.

Elle est si jeune qu'elle s'émerveille de tout.

Tout pour émerveiller

— Everything needed to amaze.

Ce parc d'attractions a tout pour émerveiller les familles.

Avoir de quoi s'émerveiller

— To have reasons to be amazed.

Avec un tel paysage, on a de quoi s'émerveiller.

S'émerveiller comme un enfant

— To marvel with the innocence and joy of a child.

Il s'émerveille comme un enfant devant les cadeaux.

Émerveiller le monde entier

— To amaze the whole world.

Sa découverte a émerveillé le monde entier.

S'émerveiller de la chance

— To marvel at one's good luck.

Je m'émerveille de la chance que j'ai eue.

De quoi émerveiller

— Something that can amaze.

Voici de quoi émerveiller vos invités.

Often Confused With

émerveiller vs étonner

Étonner is neutral surprise; émerveiller is always positive and beautiful.

émerveiller vs éblouir

Éblouir is more about visual brilliance or being impressed by skill; émerveiller is more about emotional wonder.

émerveiller vs effrayer

Learners sometimes mix up 'émerveiller' with 'effrayer' (to frighten) because of the 'e' start, but they are opposites in emotion.

Idioms & Expressions

"En avoir plein la vue"

— To be dazzled or amazed by what one sees.

Au sommet de la montagne, on en a pris plein la vue.

informal

"Rester bouche bée"

— To stay with one's mouth open in amazement.

Il est resté bouche bée devant le spectacle.

neutral

"Avoir des étoiles dans les yeux"

— To have stars in one's eyes (to be enchanted/amazed).

Elle avait des étoiles dans les yeux en voyant son idole.

neutral

"Être aux anges"

— To be over the moon (extremely happy/amazed).

Il était aux anges après sa réussite.

neutral

"Tomber des nues"

— To be completely taken by surprise (often negative, but can be neutral).

Je suis tombé des nues en apprenant la nouvelle.

neutral

"En rester de deux ronds de frites"

— To be stunned/amazed (very informal French idiom).

Quand il a gagné, j'en suis resté de deux ronds de frites.

slang

"Couper le souffle"

— To take someone's breath away.

Ce paysage coupe le souffle.

neutral

"Être scotché"

— To be 'glued' or stunned by amazement.

J'étais scotché devant l'écran.

informal

"En perdre son latin"

— To be so amazed or confused that one loses one's wits.

Devant un tel mystère, j'en perds mon latin.

neutral

"Mettre plein les yeux"

— To impress someone greatly.

Il veut en mettre plein les yeux à sa fiancée.

informal

Easily Confused

émerveiller vs Merveilleux

It is the adjective form.

Merveilleux describes the thing; émerveiller is the action of feeling wonder.

C'est un endroit merveilleux qui m'émerveille.

émerveiller vs Émerveillement

It is the noun form.

Émerveillement is the state or concept of wonder.

Son émerveillement était visible sur son visage.

émerveiller vs Éveiller

Similar sound and spelling.

Éveiller means 'to wake up' or 'to arouse' (interest), while émerveiller means 'to amaze'.

Cela a éveillé ma curiosité.

émerveiller vs Surveiller

Similar suffix -eiller.

Surveiller means 'to watch over' or 'to monitor'.

Le gardien surveille le musée.

émerveiller vs Conseiller

Similar suffix -eiller.

Conseiller means 'to advise'.

Je te conseille de voir ce film.

Sentence Patterns

Le [noun] émerveille les [noun].

Le cirque émerveille les enfants.

Je m'émerveille devant [noun].

Je m'émerveille devant la mer.

C'est un [noun] qui émerveille.

C'est un film qui émerveille.

Il est [adjective] de s'émerveiller de [noun].

Il est important de s'émerveiller de tout.

[Noun] ne cesse d'émerveiller [noun].

La nature ne cesse d'émerveiller l'homme.

S'émerveiller de [noun], c'est [infinitive].

S'émerveiller de la vie, c'est vivre pleinement.

[Noun] a de quoi émerveiller.

Ce musée a de quoi émerveiller.

Elle est émerveillée par [noun].

Elle est émerveillée par le cadeau.

Word Family

Nouns

émerveillement (wonderment)

merveille (marvel/wonder)

Verbs

émerveiller (to amaze)

s'émerveiller (to marvel)

Adjectives

émerveillé (amazed)

merveilleux (marvelous)

émerveillable (capable of wonder)

miracle

mirage

admirer

miroir

admirable

How to Use It

frequency

Common in literature, travel writing, and art criticism; moderate in daily speech.

Common Mistakes

Je m'émerveille à la musique. → Je m'émerveille de la musique.
The preposition after 's'émerveiller' is 'de', not 'à'.
Le film est émerveillant. → Le film est merveilleux.
While 'émerveillant' exists, 'merveilleux' is much more natural as an adjective.
Ils sont émerveillé. → Ils sont émerveillés.
The past participle must agree with the plural subject 'ils'.
Ça m'émerveille de la pluie. → Ça m'étonne qu'il pleuve (or similar).
Don't use 'émerveiller' for things that aren't beautiful or positive.
Je m'émerveille devant de son talent. → Je m'émerveille de son talent.
Don't combine 'devant' and 'de'. Use one or the other based on the context.

Tips

Reflexive Prepositions

Always remember 's'émerveiller DE' or 'DEVANT'. Never use 'À'.

The Root 'Merveille'

Connect the verb to 'merveille' (wonder) to remember its meaning easily.

Pronunciation of -eill-

The 'eill' sound is like the 'y' in 'yes'. Don't let the 'll' confuse you.

Positive Only

Only use this word for things that are beautiful or impressive in a good way.

Agreement

In the passive voice, don't forget to agree 'émerveillé' with the subject.

Artistic Flair

Use this word when talking about French art or architecture to sound sophisticated.

Word Family

Learn 'merveilleux' and 'émerveillement' at the same time to boost your vocabulary.

Register

Use 'époustoufler' with friends and 'émerveiller' in more formal writing.

Audio Cues

The 'é-' prefix often indicates a state or a change of state in French verbs.

Visualizing

Picture a 'Marvel' superhero performing a miracle to link the sounds and meaning.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'EMERALD' (émeraude) that is so beautiful it makes you 'émerveiller'. Both start with 'émer-'.

Visual Association

Imagine a child with huge, wide eyes looking at a magic wand emitting sparkles. The child is 'émerveillé'.

Word Web

beauté surprise joie magie art nature enfant spectacle

Challenge

Try to find one thing every day that can 't'émerveiller' and write it down in French using the reflexive form.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'merveille', which comes from the Latin 'mirabilia', meaning 'wonderful things'.

Original meaning: Things that are worthy of being admired or looked at.

Romance (Latin root 'mirari' meaning 'to look at/wonder at').

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but avoid using it for tragic events as it is strictly positive.

In English, we often use 'amazing' for everything. In French, 'émerveiller' is more specific to beauty and wonder, not just 'cool' or 'good'.

Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (focuses on child-like wonder). The 'Merveilles' of the world (Seven Wonders). French Impressionist painters sought to 'émerveiller' through light.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Nature

s'émerveiller d'un paysage
émerveiller par les couleurs
s'émerveiller du vivant
émerveiller par la faune

Art

émerveiller l'auditoire
s'émerveiller devant un tableau
émerveiller par la technique
un chef-d'œuvre qui émerveille

Childhood

émerveiller les petits
s'émerveiller comme un enfant
garder sa capacité à s'émerveiller
émerveiller l'imaginaire

Science

émerveiller par les découvertes
s'émerveiller du cosmos
émerveiller par l'infiniment petit
s'émerveiller devant la technologie

Travel

émerveiller par l'architecture
s'émerveiller de la culture locale
un voyage qui émerveille
s'émerveiller devant les monuments

Conversation Starters

"Qu'est-ce qui t'a émerveillé récemment lors de tes voyages ?"

"Est-ce que tu penses qu'il est facile de s'émerveiller de la vie quotidienne ?"

"Quel artiste a le don de t'émerveiller à chaque fois ?"

"Te souviens-tu d'un spectacle qui t'a vraiment émerveillé quand tu étais enfant ?"

"Est-ce que la science t'émerveille plus que l'art ?"

Journal Prompts

Décris un moment de ta vie où tu as été totalement émerveillé par la nature.

Pourquoi est-il important, selon toi, de continuer à s'émerveiller en grandissant ?

Si tu devais émerveiller quelqu'un qui n'a jamais voyagé, où l'emmènerais-tu ?

Réfléchis à une petite chose simple qui t'émerveille chaque jour.

Est-ce que les nouvelles technologies t'émerveillent ou te font peur ? Explique pourquoi.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'émerveiller' is exclusively positive. For a negative surprise, use 'choquer' or 'stupéfier'.

'Devant' is usually for physical things you are looking at (like a monument). 'De' is for abstract things (like someone's talent).

Yes, but it is slightly more formal than 'aimer'. You hear it often in cultural and poetic contexts.

It's a regular -er verb: j'émerveille, tu émerveilles, il émerveille, nous émerveillons, vous émerveillez, ils émerveillent.

No, the adjective is 'merveilleux' or 'émerveillant' is technically possible but rarely used. Use 'merveilleux' instead.

The noun is 'émerveillement'.

Only if you are in a creative field like art, design, or tourism. In finance or law, it's too emotional.

Yes, you can be 'émerveillé' by someone's talent, kindness, or beauty.

When you say 'Je m'émerveille que...', it is followed by the subjunctive because it expresses emotion.

It can be both! 'Ce film m'émerveille' (transitive) or 'Je m'émerveille de ce film' (reflexive).