accompagner

/a.kɔ̃.pa.ɲe/
accompany

Elle accompagne son frère à l'école tous les matins.

She accompanies her brother to school every morning.


neutral

To go somewhere with someone as a companion or escort

Il a accompagné ses parents en voyage.

He accompanied his parents on the trip.

Can imply physical presence or support without implying direction.

neutral

To add something to something else to enhance it or make it complete

Ce vin accompagne parfaitement le fromage.

This wine perfectly accompanies the cheese.

Common in culinary contexts.

neutral

To occur or exist with something else

La fièvre accompagne souvent la grippe.

Fever often accompanies the flu.

Used in medical or descriptive contexts.

Collocations

accompagner quelqu'un àto accompany someone toaccompagner un plat avecto accompany a dish withêtre accompagné deto be accompanied by

Pro Tip

Prepositions with 'accompagner'

Use 'à' for movement toward a place ('accompagner quelqu'un à la gare') and 'de' for accompaniment in a figurative sense ('accompagner une décision de soutien').

Gold Rule

Physical vs. Figurative Use

For physical movement together, use 'accompagner' with 'à'. For supportive roles without movement, use 'accompagner' with 'dans' or no preposition.

Word Origin

From Old French 'acompagner' (12th c.), from Vulgar Latin *accompaniare 'to join as a companion', from Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'companio' (companion, from 'com-' (with) + 'panis' (bread)).

Usage Notes

In French, 'accompagner' can imply a supportive role without implying direction (e.g., 'Il l'a accompagné dans sa décision' = He supported her in her decision). In English, 'accompany' often implies physical presence or movement together.

Word Breakdown

ac-
to, toward
prefix
+
compagner
companion (from Latin 'companio')
root
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais