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B1 verb 8 min de leitura

intoxiquer

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas intoxiquer em 30 segundos

Explicação intoxiquer in your Level:

At the A1 level, you probably won't use the verb 'intoxiquer' very often, but you might see the word 'intoxication' on food packaging or in safety signs. Think of it as a very strong version of 'malade' (sick). If you eat something bad and you are very, very sick, a doctor might use this word. For now, just remember that it sounds like 'toxic' in English. If you see 'toxique' or 'intoxiquer', it means something is dangerous for your health. Do not confuse it with being happy or having fun; it is always about being sick or in danger.

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At the A2 level, you can start to use 'intoxiquer' in simple sentences about health. You might learn the phrase 'intoxication alimentaire' because it is very common when traveling. You can say 'Je suis malade, j'ai une intoxication' if you ate bad food. You should also learn that it is a regular -er verb, so it conjugates like 'manger' or 'parler'. Example: 'Le poisson m'a intoxiqué.' Just be careful not to use it to mean you drank too much wine! For that, use 'J'ai trop bu.'

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At the B1 level, you should understand both the literal and figurative meanings of 'intoxiquer'. You will encounter it in news reports about pollution or food safety. You should also start to notice it in political discussions. In France, people talk about 'l'intox' (fake news). You can use it to describe how bad information or a bad atmosphere can 'poison' a situation. You should be comfortable using the reflexive form 's'intoxiquer' (to poison oneself) and the passive form 'être intoxiqué par'. This is a key word for discussing social issues and health.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'intoxiquer' to describe complex social phenomena. You might discuss how propaganda 'intoxique' public opinion or how a 'climat social' can be 'intoxiqué' by distrust. You should understand the nuance between 'intoxiquer' and 'empoisonner' (intent vs. effect). You should also be familiar with the noun 'désintoxication' both in a medical sense (rehab) and a journalistic sense (fact-checking). Your vocabulary should include expressions like 'intoxiquer les esprits' and you should be able to use the word in formal essays about media or the environment.

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At the C1 level, you use 'intoxiquer' with precision in academic or professional contexts. You can analyze how certain ideologies 'intoxiquent' a culture over time. You understand the historical context of 'intoxication' as a tactic in psychological warfare. You can use the verb in the active voice to describe abstract agents: 'Le cynisme ambiant finit par intoxiquer les meilleures intentions.' You are also aware of the subtle registers of the word, from the highly technical medical usage to the sharp, cynical use in political commentary. You can distinguish between 'intoxication', 'contamination', and 'inféodation' in complex arguments.

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At the C2 level, 'intoxiquer' is a tool for stylistic nuance. You can use it to create vivid metaphors in literature or high-level journalism. You might write about the 'intoxication' of a whole generation by consumerism or the 'effluves intoxicants' of a corrupt power structure. You have a complete command of all its derivatives and can play with the word's history and its modern association with 'fake news' (l'intox). You can use it in a variety of moods and tenses to express subtle shades of causality and responsibility in both physical and metaphysical realms.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

intoxiquer em 30 segundos

Intoxiquer primarily means to poison medically, often used for food or gas poisoning.
It has a strong metaphorical sense meaning to brainwash or spread misinformation.
The noun 'intox' is a common French term for 'fake news' or hoaxes.
It is a false friend; it does not mean 'to be drunk' like the English 'intoxicated'.

The French verb intoxiquer is a sophisticated and essential term for learners at the B1 level and beyond. At its most literal level, it refers to the act of poisoning or causing a physical illness through the ingestion or inhalation of a toxic substance. This is most commonly encountered in everyday French in the context of intoxication alimentaire (food poisoning). For example, if you eat shellfish that wasn't fresh, you might say you have been intoxiqué. Unlike the English word 'intoxicated,' which often refers to being drunk or high, the French intoxiquer is primarily medical and serious, focusing on the harmful effects of toxins on the body.

Medical Context: This describes the physiological process where a poison enters the bloodstream. It is used for carbon monoxide poisoning (intoxication au monoxyde de carbone) or chemical exposure in industrial settings.

Les fumées de l'incendie ont failli intoxiquer les habitants du quartier.

Beyond the physical, intoxiquer has a powerful metaphorical meaning in French. It is frequently used in the world of media, politics, and psychology to describe the act of 'poisoning' someone's mind or manipulating public opinion with false information. In this sense, it is synonymous with brainwashing or spreading propaganda. The noun form une intox is a very common colloquialism for 'fake news' or a 'hoax' designed to mislead. When a politician or a media outlet spreads lies to confuse the public, they are said to intoxiquer l'opinion publique. This dual nature of the word—moving from the biological to the ideological—makes it a versatile tool for describing harmful influences in any form.

Figurative Usage: Used when someone is being influenced by bad ideas, propaganda, or a toxic atmosphere. For example, a toxic relationship can intoxiquer your daily life.

In summary, use intoxiquer when discussing health risks, environmental hazards, or the spread of misinformation. It is a word that carries weight and seriousness, signaling that something harmful has entered a system—be it a body, a room, or a society—and is causing damage from the inside out.

Grammatically, intoxiquer is a regular -er verb, making it relatively simple to conjugate. However, its usage patterns change depending on whether you are using it in the active, passive, or reflexive voice. Understanding these nuances is key to sounding like a native speaker. When used actively, the subject is the source of the poison: Le gaz a intoxiqué la famille (The gas poisoned the family). Here, the focus is on the agent of harm. In the passive voice, which is very common in news reports, you will see: Ils ont été intoxiqués par des champignons sauvages (They were poisoned by wild mushrooms).

Faites attention à ne pas vous intoxiquer avec ces produits d'entretien.

Reflexive Form (S'intoxiquer): The reflexive form s'intoxiquer is used when the person is the one responsible for their own poisoning, often accidentally. Elle s'est intoxiquée en mangeant du poisson périmé.

In metaphorical contexts, the structure remains the same but the vocabulary shifts toward abstract concepts. You might say, Les réseaux sociaux peuvent intoxiquer l'esprit des jeunes (Social media can poison the minds of young people). Notice how the verb takes a direct object (the mind, the public, the atmosphere). Another common construction involves the atmosphere of a place: La jalousie a fini par intoxiquer toute l'équipe de travail (Jealousy ended up poisoning the entire work team). In this case, it describes a gradual degradation of a situation or relationship.

Finally, when discussing the news or media manipulation, you might hear the phrase se laisser intoxiquer (to let oneself be brainwashed/misled). This implies a lack of critical thinking. For example: Ne vous laissez pas intoxiquer par la propagande (Don't let yourselves be brainwashed by propaganda). This use is very frequent in political debates and discussions about information literacy in the digital age.

You will encounter intoxiquer and its derivatives in three primary environments in France. The first is in the medical and safety domain. If you visit a French hospital or read a safety manual, you'll see warnings about risques d'intoxication. During the winter, French news channels often run segments warning about l'intoxication au monoxyde de carbone caused by faulty heaters. This is a very literal, life-and-death usage of the word that every resident in France needs to recognize for their own safety.

Le restaurant a été fermé après que vingt clients ont été intoxiqués.

The second major environment is journalism and politics. This is where the word becomes more abstract. French journalists use the term intox (short for intoxication) to refer to disinformation campaigns. There are even popular TV segments and websites called 'Désintox' (short for désintoxication), which are dedicated to fact-checking and debunking lies told by public figures. In this context, to intoxiquer is to pollute the information ecosystem. You might hear a political commentator say, C'est une tentative délibérée d'intoxiquer les électeurs (It's a deliberate attempt to mislead the voters).

Colloquial Shortening: 'L'intox' is the standard slang for a hoax or fake news. It's the opposite of 'l'info' (real information).

The third environment is social and professional life. French people use intoxiquer to describe a 'toxic' atmosphere (though the adjective toxique is also used). If a workplace has a lot of gossip and backstabbing, a French person might say, L'ambiance est devenue irrespirable, ils sont en train d'intoxiquer tout le service. This highlights how the word captures the idea of a slow, spreading negativity that makes a situation unbearable. Whether it's a bad meal, a lying politician, or a mean colleague, intoxiquer is the verb of choice for describing something that is making the environment—or the person—sick.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with intoxiquer is treating it as a direct translation of 'to intoxicate.' In English, 'intoxicated' is a formal or legal way to say someone is drunk or under the influence of drugs. In French, intoxiquer almost never refers to the 'fun' or 'recreational' side of substance use. If you say Je suis intoxiqué at a bar, people will think you have been poisoned by a tainted drink, not that you've had too many beers. To say you are drunk, use ivre, saoul, or the informal bourré.

Attention : 'intoxiqué' ne veut pas dire 'drunk' ! Utilisez ivre pour l'alcool.

False Friend Alert: English: Intoxicated = Drunk. French: Intoxiqué = Poisoned/Sick from toxins.

Another mistake is confusing intoxiquer with empoisonner. While they are close synonyms, they are not always interchangeable. Empoisonner often implies a deliberate act with a lethal intent (like a villain in a movie), whereas intoxiquer is more often used for accidental or environmental poisoning (like pollution or bad food). Using empoisonner for a simple case of food poisoning might sound a bit too dramatic, as if someone was trying to murder you with a sandwich.

Finally, learners sometimes forget the reflexive 'se' in s'intoxiquer. If you say J'ai intoxiqué, it means you poisoned someone else. If you mean you got food poisoning yourself, you must say Je me suis intoxiqué. This distinction is vital for clear communication, especially in medical emergencies where the doctor needs to know who is the victim and what the source was.

To broaden your vocabulary, it's helpful to look at words that share the semantic space of intoxiquer. The most direct synonym is empoisonner. As mentioned, this is used for more literal 'poisons' and often implies intent. In a metaphorical sense, empoisonner is also used for things that ruin a life: Il m'empoisonne l'existence (He is making my life miserable). Another close relative is contaminer. This is specifically used for bacteria, viruses, or radioactivity. You would use contaminer when discussing the spread of a disease or the pollution of a water source.

Comparison Table

Intoxiquer: General poisoning (food, gas, ideas).
Empoisonner: Lethal intent or ruining a situation.
Contaminer: Biological or radioactive spread.
Infecter: Specifically for wounds or computer viruses.

In the realm of media and psychological influence, you might use manipuler or conditionner. While intoxiquer implies a 'poisoning' of the mind, manipuler focuses on the control of behavior, and conditionner focuses on the training of thought patterns. If you want to describe the act of debunking the 'intox', the verb is désintoxiquer. While this can mean medical detox (from drugs or alcohol), in modern French it is very frequently used for 'fact-checking' or 'clearing the air' after a scandal or a lie.

Il faut désintoxiquer le débat public pour revenir aux faits.

Finally, for the physical sensation of being sick from food without using a heavy word like 'intoxication', you can use avoir une indigestion or être barbouillé (to feel queasy). These are softer alternatives for minor stomach upsets that don't quite reach the level of a medical emergency. Choosing the right word depends on the severity and the context of the 'poisoning' you are describing.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The root 'tox' originally referred to the bow ('toxon' in Greek), and 'toxikon' was the poison used on the arrows shot from that bow.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ɛ̃.tɔk.si.ke/

US /ɛ̃.tɑk.si.ke/

Stress falls on the final syllable 'ké'.

Rima com

expliquer appliquer communiquer indiquer pratiquer fabriquer compliquer provoquer

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the final 'r' (it is silent).
Making the 'in' sound like the English 'in' instead of a nasal French vowel.
Stressing the first syllable like in the English word 'intoxicate'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

Easy to recognize because of the English 'toxic' root.

Escrita 4/5

Requires care with reflexive forms and false friend confusion.

Expressão oral 4/5

Nasal 'in' and silent 'r' can be tricky for beginners.

Audição 3/5

Often heard in news reports, clear pronunciation.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

malade manger poison dangereux faux

Aprenda a seguir

empoisonner manipuler désintoxication vicié insidieux

Avançado

propagande disculper inoculer pervertir

Gramática essencial

Reflexive verbs in Passé Composé

Elle s'est intoxiquée (agreement with subject).

Passive voice construction

Ils ont été intoxiqués par le gaz.

Regular -er verb conjugation

Nous intoxiquons l'opinion.

Agreement of the past participle as adjective

Une population intoxiquée.

Using 'faire' + infinitive

Il s'est fait intoxiquer.

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Exemplos por nível

Attention, ce produit peut intoxiquer.

Watch out, this product can poison.

Simple verb use after a modal verb.

Le mauvais lait a intoxiqué le chat.

The bad milk poisoned the cat.

Past tense (passé composé) of a regular verb.

Il ne faut pas manger ça, c'est toxique.

You must not eat that, it's toxic.

Using the related adjective 'toxique'.

L'eau sale peut intoxiquer les gens.

Dirty water can poison people.

Direct object 'les gens'.

Elle est à l'hôpital, elle est intoxiquée.

She is at the hospital, she is poisoned.

Passive state using 'être' + past participle.

Le gaz est dangereux, il peut intoxiquer.

The gas is dangerous, it can poison.

Intransitive-style use focusing on the potential action.

Ils ont mangé du vieux poisson et sont intoxiqués.

They ate old fish and are poisoned.

Plural agreement of the past participle.

Ne bois pas cette eau, elle va t'intoxiquer.

Don't drink this water, it is going to poison you.

Near future with 'aller' + object pronoun 't''.

Je me suis intoxiqué avec des champignons.

I poisoned myself with mushrooms.

Reflexive verb in passé composé.

L'air de la ville peut intoxiquer les enfants.

City air can poison children.

Subject-verb-object structure.

Le médecin dit que tu es intoxiqué par le gaz.

The doctor says you are poisoned by gas.

Passive voice with 'par'.

Est-ce que ce fruit peut nous intoxiquer ?

Can this fruit poison us?

Interrogative with object pronoun 'nous'.

Ils se sont intoxiqués au restaurant hier soir.

They got food poisoning at the restaurant last night.

Reflexive plural agreement.

Faites attention à ne pas intoxiquer l'eau.

Be careful not to poison the water.

Infinitive after 'à ne pas'.

Ma sœur a été intoxiquée par des produits chimiques.

My sister was poisoned by chemicals.

Passive voice, feminine agreement.

Ce vieux chauffage risque d'intoxiquer la maison.

This old heater risks poisoning the house.

Verb 'risquer de' + infinitive.

Les fausses nouvelles cherchent à intoxiquer l'opinion.

Fake news seeks to poison public opinion.

Metaphorical usage.

Il ne faut pas laisser la colère intoxiquer votre vie.

You must not let anger poison your life.

Infinitive after 'laisser'.

Cette usine a intoxiqué toute la rivière voisine.

This factory poisoned the entire neighboring river.

Passé composé with direct object.

Elle a peur de s'intoxiquer si elle mange ce plat.

She is afraid of poisoning herself if she eats this dish.

Reflexive infinitive after 'peur de'.

Le monoxyde de carbone peut intoxiquer sans odeur.

Carbon monoxide can poison without an odor.

Adverbial phrase 'sans odeur'.

Les politiciens utilisent parfois des mensonges pour intoxiquer les gens.

Politicians sometimes use lies to brainwash people.

Usage in a social/political context.

Nous avons été intoxiqués par les fumées toxiques du feu.

We were poisoned by the toxic fumes of the fire.

Passive voice plural.

L'ambiance au bureau commence à m'intoxiquer.

The atmosphere at the office is starting to poison me.

Metaphorical use for a 'toxic' environment.

La propagande a pour but d'intoxiquer durablement les esprits.

Propaganda aims to permanently poison minds.

Abstract direct object 'les esprits'.

Le scandale a fini par intoxiquer les relations entre les deux pays.

The scandal ended up poisoning relations between the two countries.

Usage with 'finir par'.

Plusieurs ouvriers ont été gravement intoxiqués par des vapeurs de plomb.

Several workers were seriously poisoned by lead vapors.

Adverb 'gravement' modifying the passive verb.

Il est facile de s'intoxiquer avec des informations non vérifiées sur internet.

It is easy to get brainwashed with unverified information on the internet.

Impersonal construction 'Il est facile de'.

La jalousie risque d'intoxiquer votre relation de couple.

Jealousy risks poisoning your relationship.

Metaphorical use for emotional states.

L'entreprise a été accusée d'avoir intoxiqué sciemment la population locale.

The company was accused of knowingly poisoning the local population.

Infinitive past 'd'avoir intoxiqué'.

Ne laissez pas le pessimisme intoxiquer vos projets d'avenir.

Don't let pessimism poison your future plans.

Imperative negative with 'laisser'.

Le journal a publié une enquête sur les méthodes pour intoxiquer l'opinion publique.

The newspaper published an investigation into methods for manipulating public opinion.

Noun phrase 'méthodes pour intoxiquer'.

Le discours haineux parvient à intoxiquer le débat démocratique.

Hate speech manages to poison democratic debate.

High-level political vocabulary.

L'accumulation de métaux lourds finit par intoxiquer l'organisme de manière irréversible.

The accumulation of heavy metals eventually poisons the body irreversibly.

Technical medical context.

Certaines théories du complot visent à intoxiquer les franges les plus fragiles de la société.

Certain conspiracy theories aim to brainwash the most fragile fringes of society.

Precise sociological terminology.

Il s'agit d'une tentative d'intoxication médiatique sans précédent.

It is an unprecedented attempt at media manipulation.

Noun form 'intoxication' used formally.

Le cynisme ambiant a fini par intoxiquer jusqu'aux plus idéalistes d'entre nous.

The ambient cynicism ended up poisoning even the most idealistic among us.

Use of 'jusqu'aux' for emphasis.

Les sols ont été si durement intoxiqués qu'aucune culture n'est plus possible.

The soil has been so severely poisoned that no farming is possible anymore.

Passive voice with adverbial intensity 'si durement'.

L'art ne doit pas servir à intoxiquer les consciences mais à les libérer.

Art should not serve to poison consciences but to free them.

Philosophical/Ethical contrast.

Il est impératif de désintoxiquer le langage politique de ses euphémismes trompeurs.

It is imperative to detoxify political language of its misleading euphemisms.

Use of the antonym/counter-verb 'désintoxiquer'.

La sémantique de la peur a insidieusement intoxiqué le tissu social.

The semantics of fear have insidiously poisoned the social fabric.

Advanced adverb 'insidieusement'.

L'œuvre explore comment le pouvoir peut intoxiquer l'âme humaine jusqu'à la folie.

The work explores how power can poison the human soul to the point of madness.

Literary analysis context.

L'intoxication idéologique rend toute forme de dialogue constructif caduque.

Ideological poisoning renders any form of constructive dialogue obsolete.

Noun form used as a complex subject.

Par ses écrits, il a cherché à intoxiquer la postérité avec ses propres griefs.

Through his writings, he sought to poison posterity with his own grievances.

Abstract temporal object 'la postérité'.

Le scandale a eu pour effet d'intoxiquer durablement l'image de marque de la firme.

The scandal had the effect of permanently poisoning the firm's brand image.

Business/Marketing context.

Il ne faut pas sous-estimer la capacité des réseaux à intoxiquer les flux d'information.

One must not underestimate the capacity of networks to poison information flows.

Infinitive phrase as a complement.

Une telle rancœur finit par intoxiquer chaque geste du quotidien.

Such resentment ends up poisoning every daily gesture.

Subject 'une telle rancœur'.

Le chercheur a démontré comment ces substances intoxiquent les neurotransmetteurs.

The researcher demonstrated how these substances poison neurotransmitters.

Highly technical scientific usage.

Sinônimos

empoisonner contaminer manipuler infecter conditionner vicié abuser envenimer

Antônimos

désintoxiquer assainir guérir informer

Colocações comuns

intoxication alimentaire

intoxiquer l'opinion publique

intoxication au monoxyde de carbone

se laisser intoxiquer

tentative d'intoxication

intoxiquer les esprits

gravement intoxiqué

air intoxiqué

campagne d'intoxication

produit intoxiquant

Frases Comuns

C'est de l'intox !

— That's fake news! Used to dismiss a rumor or a lie.

Ne crois pas ce qu'il dit sur Twitter, c'est de l'intox !

Info ou intox ?

— Fact or fiction? A common phrase used in news segments to verify claims.

Le ministre va démissionner : info ou intox ?

Être victime d'une intoxication

— To suffer from poisoning (usually food or gas).

Toute la famille a été victime d'une intoxication au gaz.

Désintoxiquer le débat

— To clear up lies and return to facts in a discussion.

Il est temps de désintoxiquer le débat sur le climat.

Une ambiance intoxiquée

— A toxic or poisoned atmosphere (metaphorical).

On ne peut plus travailler dans cette ambiance intoxiquée.

S'intoxiquer à petit feu

— To slowly poison oneself (physically or mentally).

Avec ce stress, tu t'intoxiques à petit feu.

Lutter contre l'intox

— To fight against misinformation.

Les journalistes doivent lutter contre l'intox sur les réseaux sociaux.

Intoxiquer ses propres rangs

— To accidentally mislead or harm one's own allies.

En mentant, le chef a fini par intoxiquer ses propres rangs.

Risque d'intoxication majeure

— A high risk of severe poisoning.

La fuite chimique présente un risque d'intoxication majeure.

Se faire intoxiquer

— To get poisoned or to be misled.

Elle s'est fait intoxiquer par les promesses du vendeur.

Frequentemente confundido com

intoxiquer vs Ivre / Saoul

English speakers use 'intoxicated' for drunk, but French speakers use 'ivre' or 'saoul'.

intoxiquer vs Empoisonner

Empoisonner implies a deliberate, often lethal act; intoxiquer is often accidental.

intoxiquer vs Infecter

Infecter is for germs/bacteria in a wound; intoxiquer is for chemicals or food.

Expressões idiomáticas

"Intoxiquer l'abreuvoir"

— To poison the well. Metaphorically making a situation impossible for others.

Il a intoxiqué l'abreuvoir en racontant des calomnies sur moi.

literary

"L'intoxication par le vide"

— Refers to being overwhelmed or misled by a lack of substance/truth.

Ce discours n'est qu'une intoxication par le vide.

intellectual

"S'intoxiquer de mots"

— To get carried away by one's own rhetoric or empty words.

Ce poète finit par s'intoxiquer de ses propres mots.

literary

"Faire de l'intox"

— To engage in a disinformation campaign.

Le parti d'opposition fait de l'intox pour gagner les élections.

informal/political

"Une douche de désintox"

— A sudden realization of the truth after being lied to.

Ses aveux ont été comme une douche de désintox pour nous.

informal

"Intoxiquer la source"

— To ruin the origin of something so everything following is tainted.

En changeant les données, il a intoxiqué la source de l'étude.

technical/metaphorical

"L'info qui tue l'intox"

— The fact that debunked the lie.

Cette preuve, c'est l'info qui tue l'intox.

journalistic

"Vivre dans l'intox"

— To live in a world of lies or delusion.

Il vit dans l'intox totale depuis qu'il suit ce gourou.

informal

"Un climat intoxiqué"

— A social environment full of distrust.

Le climat intoxiqué de l'entreprise empêche tout progrès.

neutral

"Se sevrer de l'intox"

— To stop consuming or believing false information.

Il est difficile de se sevrer de l'intox médiatique.

metaphorical

Fácil de confundir

intoxiquer vs Intoxiqué vs. Ivre

Phonetic similarity to English 'intoxicated'.

Intoxiqué means sick from poison; Ivre means drunk from alcohol.

Il est ivre après trois bières, mais il est intoxiqué s'il boit du poison.

intoxiquer vs Intoxiquer vs. Empoisonner

Overlapping meanings of 'to poison'.

Intoxiquer is often environmental/accidental; Empoisonner is often criminal/intentional.

On empoisonne un rat, mais on est intoxiqué par la fumée.

intoxiquer vs Intoxiquer vs. Contaminer

Both involve harmful substances.

Contaminer is about spreading (radiation/germs); Intoxiquer is about the effect on the body.

L'usine contamine la rivière qui intoxique les poissons.

intoxiquer vs Intoxiquer vs. Manipuler

Both used for mind control.

Intoxiquer implies polluting thoughts with lies; Manipuler is more general control.

Il manipule son ami, mais il intoxique l'opinion avec des rumeurs.

intoxiquer vs Désintoxiquer vs. Désinfecter

Both mean 'cleaning' something harmful.

Désintoxiquer is for poisons/lies; Désinfecter is for bacteria/germs.

On désinfecte une plaie, on désintoxique un drogué ou une rumeur.

Padrões de frases

Le [food] a intoxiqué [person].

Le poisson a intoxiqué mon frère.

Je me suis intoxiqué avec [thing].

Je me suis intoxiqué avec des champignons sauvages.

Ne vous laissez pas intoxiquer par [thing].

Ne vous laissez pas intoxiquer par les réseaux sociaux.

[Abstract subject] finit par intoxiquer [object].

Le doute finit par intoxiquer leur amitié.

Une campagne visant à intoxiquer [group].

Une campagne visant à intoxiquer les électeurs.

Il est impératif de désintoxiquer [concept].

Il est impératif de désintoxiquer le langage administratif.

L'intoxication par [thing] est un risque majeur.

L'intoxication par le monoxyde de carbone est un risque majeur.

[Noun] a insidieusement intoxiqué [noun].

La méfiance a insidieusement intoxiqué le débat public.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

intoxication (f) - poisoning

intox (f) - fake news/hoax

toxine (f) - toxin

toxicité (f) - toxicity

désintoxication (f) - detox

Verbos

désintoxiquer - to detoxify/debunk

toxicomaner - (rare) to be a drug addict

Adjetivos

toxique - toxic

intoxiqué - poisoned

intoxicant - intoxicating/poisonous

Relacionado

poison

venin

antidote

pollution

manipulation

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Como usar

frequency

Common in news and medical contexts; moderate in daily speech.

Erros comuns

Using 'intoxiqué' to mean 'drunk'. → Ivre / Saoul
In French, 'intoxiqué' means poisoned. It is never used for alcohol consumption.
Saying 'J'ai intoxiqué' when you mean you got sick. → Je me suis intoxiqué
Without the reflexive 'me', it means you poisoned someone else.
Confusing 'intoxiquer' with 'infecter'. → Infecter (for germs), Intoxiquer (for toxins/food).
You 'infect' a cut with bacteria, but you 'intoxicate' a body with chemicals or bad food.
Forgetting the 'e' in 'intoxiquée' for a woman. → Elle est intoxiquée.
The past participle must agree in gender with the subject in passive or reflexive forms.
Using 'empoisonner' for a minor stomach upset. → Indigestion / Intoxication alimentaire.
'Empoisonner' sounds like a murder attempt. 'Intoxication' is more common for food issues.

Dicas

Reflexive Agreement

When using 's'intoxiquer' in the passé composé, the past participle must agree with the subject. 'Elle s'est intoxiquée' (add an 'e').

Short Form

Use 'l'intox' in casual conversation when talking about rumors or fake news. It sounds very native.

Fact-Checking

If you see a segment called 'Désintox' on French TV, know it's about debunking lies, not about drug rehab.

Emergency

If someone is 'intoxiqué', call 'le 15' (SAMU) or 'le 18' (Pompiers) immediately.

Toxic Atmosphere

Use 'intoxiquer' to describe a workplace with too much gossip. 'Leurs rumeurs intoxiquent le bureau.'

Don't say it at a party

If you are 'drunk', say 'Je suis ivre'. If you say 'Je suis intoxiqué', people will call a doctor.

Pollution

Use 'intoxiquer' for the effects of smog or heavy metals on the local population.

Propaganda

In essays, use 'intoxiquer l'opinion' to describe how media can manipulate voters.

Technical use

In biology, 'intoxiquer' refers to the action of toxins on cells or organs.

Regular Verb

Since it's a regular -er verb, you can easily conjugate it if you know 'parler'.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'IN-TOXIC-ate'. If you put a TOXIC substance IN your body, you 'intoxiquer' yourself. It's not a party; it's a poison!

Associação visual

Imagine a green skull and crossbones emoji on a plate of bad fish or on a TV screen showing fake news.

Word Web

Poison Food poisoning Fake news Gas Propaganda Toxic Hospital Lies

Desafio

Write three sentences: one about bad food, one about a gas leak, and one about a lie you heard on the news, using 'intoxiquer' in each.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Latin 'intoxicare', which means 'to smear with poison'. This comes from the Greek 'toxikon', meaning 'poison for arrows'.

Significado original: To put poison on something, specifically arrows for hunting or warfare.

Romance (Latin root)

Contexto cultural

Be sensitive when using this word in medical contexts; it implies a serious health risk.

English speakers must be very careful with this false friend. 'Intoxicated' is often positive or neutral in English (legal context), but 'intoxiquer' is always negative in French.

Libération's 'Désintox' column - a pioneer in fact-checking. The film 'L'Intox' (metaphorical titles are common in French thrillers). Medical manuals on 'l'intoxication au CO' found in every French home.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

At the Hospital

J'ai une intoxication alimentaire.
Il a été intoxiqué par des fumées.
Quel est l'antidote ?
C'est une intoxication grave.

Reading the News

C'est de l'intox.
Campagne d'intoxication.
Info ou intox ?
Désintoxiquer les faits.

Environmental Safety

Risque d'intoxication au gaz.
L'eau est intoxiquée.
Produits toxiques.
Aérer pour ne pas s'intoxiquer.

Workplace Relations

Une ambiance intoxiquée.
Il intoxique l'équipe.
C'est une relation toxique.
Ne te laisse pas intoxiquer.

Cooking/Food

Le poisson est périmé.
Attention à l'intoxication.
Bien cuire pour ne pas s'intoxiquer.
Produits frais uniquement.

Iniciadores de conversa

"As-tu déjà eu une intoxication alimentaire au restaurant ?"

"Comment fais-tu pour distinguer l'info de l'intox sur internet ?"

"Penses-tu que la publicité cherche à nous intoxiquer ?"

"Quels sont les dangers d'intoxication dans une maison ancienne ?"

"Comment peut-on désintoxiquer le débat politique actuel ?"

Temas para diário

Décrivez une fois où vous avez mangé quelque chose qui vous a intoxiqué. Quelles ont été les conséquences ?

Analysez une 'intox' que vous avez vue récemment sur les réseaux sociaux. Pourquoi était-elle crédible ?

Comment une personne peut-elle intoxiquer l'ambiance d'un groupe sans s'en rendre compte ?

Pensez-vous que nous sommes intoxiqués par la technologie moderne ? Expliquez votre point de vue.

Imaginez un monde sans 'intox'. Comment la communication serait-elle différente ?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No. In French, 'intoxiquer' refers to poisoning. If you want to say someone is drunk, you should use 'ivre', 'saoul', or informally 'bourré'. Using 'intoxiqué' in a bar will cause confusion and concern for your health.

It is a common abbreviation for 'intoxication' used in the context of media and politics. It refers to 'fake news', hoaxes, or propaganda designed to mislead the public. For example, 'C'est de l'intox' means 'That's a lie/fake news'.

The standard term is 'une intoxication alimentaire'. You can say 'J'ai eu une intoxication alimentaire' or 'Je me suis intoxiqué avec du poisson'.

Yes, it is a regular -er verb. It follows the same conjugation patterns as 'parler', 'manger', and 'aimer'. Example: j'intoxique, nous intoxiquons, ils intoxiquent.

'Empoisonner' usually implies a deliberate act of giving someone poison, often with the intent to kill. 'Intoxiquer' is more general and often refers to accidental poisoning from food, gas, or environmental factors. Figuratively, 'intoxiquer' is more common for propaganda.

You use it when the person is the victim of their own action, usually accidentally. 'Elle s'est intoxiquée en respirant des produits chimiques.' It requires the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se).

Yes, it is common to say that a toxic person or a bad atmosphere 'intoxique' a relationship or a group. It implies a slow, negative influence that ruins the harmony.

It has two meanings: 1) Medical detox from drugs or alcohol, and 2) Fact-checking or debunking fake news. In French media, 'La Désintox' is a popular name for fact-checking segments.

Usually, yes. It is a transitive verb (intoxiquer quelqu'un) or reflexive (s'intoxiquer). However, in some contexts like 'Le gaz intoxique', the object is implied.

Yes, the past participle 'intoxiqué' can be used as an adjective. 'Une personne intoxiquée' (A poisoned person). Remember to agree with gender and number.

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