French translation of eavesdrop is 
écouter

Meaning of "eavesdrop" in English

The verb "eavesdrop" refers to the act of secretly listening to the private conversation of others without their knowledge. Historically, the term was derived from the practice of standing under the eaves of a house to hear conversations happening inside. Eavesdropping usually implies a breach of privacy or trust, often with the intent to gather information. Although it may be considered a casual or informal way of gleaning details, its ethical implications can be significant, depending largely on the context in which it occurs.

Meaning of "écouter" in French

In French, the verb "écouter" simply means "to listen." It is a versatile term used in a variety of contexts, ranging from listening to music or a person speaking to paying attention to a sound. Unlike "eavesdrop," "écouter" doesn't inherently carry a negative connotation or imply secrecy. The word is used in everyday conversation to signify the act of actively and attentively using the sense of hearing to understand or perceive sound and auditory information.

Pronunciation of "eavesdrop" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈiːvzdrɒp/

Pronunciation Variations: The pronunciation remains relatively consistent across various English-speaking regions, though subtle differences may exist in vowel sound articulation. For instance, American English may slightly alter the "drop" to sound more like "drahp."

Pronunciation of "écouter" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /e.ku.te/

Pronunciation Variations: French pronunciation standards are largely uniform, but regional accents, such as Parisian or southern French, may slightly influence intonation and vowel stress. The overall pronunciation remains consistent across different areas of France and French-speaking countries.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

1. She likes to eavesdrop on her neighbors. (Elle aime écouter ses voisins.)
2. The journalist tried to eavesdrop on the secret meeting. (Le journaliste a essayé d'écouter la réunion secrète.)
3. Children tend to eavesdrop on adult conversations. (Les enfants ont tendance à écouter les conversations des adultes.)
4. He was caught eavesdropping outside the office. (Il a été surpris en train d'écouter devant le bureau.)
5. They used the device to eavesdrop on the phone call. (Ils ont utilisé l'appareil pour écouter l'appel téléphonique.)
6. We could eavesdrop through the thin walls. (Nous pouvions écouter à travers les murs fins.)
7. Eavesdropping on private talks is considered rude. (Écouter des conversations privées est considéré comme impoli.)
8. She eavesdropped to learn the news first. (Elle a écouté pour apprendre la nouvelle en premier.)
9. The detective eavesdropped to gather more evidence. (Le détective a écouté pour recueillir plus de preuves.)
10. Avoid eavesdropping to respect others' privacy. (Évitez d'écouter pour respecter la vie privée des autres.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "eavesdrop" in English

Synonyms: listen in, overhear, snoop, tap, spy

Antonyms: ignore, overlook, disregard, neglect, avoid

Similar Words: surveil, observe, audit, monitor, snoop

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "écouter" in French

Synonyms: entendre, percevoir, prêter l'oreille, ouïr

Antonyms: ignorer, négliger, éviter, se détourner

Similar Words: entendre, assister, écouter attentivement, suivre

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