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embarquer
/ɑ̃.baʁ.ke/
to board
Les passagers doivent embarquer 30 minutes avant le décollage.
Passengers must board 30 minutes before takeoff.
neutral
to board (a vehicle, especially a ship or plane)
Il a embarqué sur le vol pour New York.
He boarded the flight to New York.
Commonly used for ships, planes, and other large vehicles. Can also mean 'to take on board' metaphorically.
neutral
to load (cargo or passengers)
Le capitaine a embarqué les marchandises dans la cale.
The captain loaded the goods into the hold.
Often used in maritime or transport contexts.
informal
to get involved in (a project, scheme, or adventure)
Elle a embarqué dans cette aventure sans réfléchir.
She got involved in that adventure without thinking.
Colloquial usage, often implies impulsive or enthusiastic participation.
Collocations
embarquer à bord deto board (a vehicle)embarquer pourto set off forembarquer dans un projetto get involved in a project
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Confusing 'embarquer' with 'embarrasser'
'Embarquer' means 'to board' or 'to get involved,' while 'embarrasser' means 'to embarrass.' These words sound similar but have very different meanings.
Gold Rule
Usage with Prepositions
Use 'embarquer dans' when referring to involvement in an activity or project (e.g., 'Il a embarqué dans un nouveau projet'). Use 'embarquer à bord de' or 'embarquer sur' when referring to boarding a vehicle (e.g., 'Elle a embarqué à bord du train').
Word Origin
From Old French 'embarquer' (14th century), derived from 'en-' (in) + 'barque' (small boat), from Late Latin 'barca', from Greek 'baris' (Egyptian boat).
Usage Notes
The verb 'embarquer' is commonly used in travel contexts (boarding a plane or ship) and can also imply involvement in an activity or project. In informal speech, it may suggest enthusiasm or lack of caution.
Word Breakdown
en-
prefix indicating 'in' or 'into'
prefix-barque
from 'barque' (small boat)
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais