Approprier

Approprier is a French transitive verb meaning to take something as one’s own and to claim ownership over it, or to adopt or adapt something for one’s use. It can refer to tangible possession, to intellectual property, or to ideas, techniques, or forms. The reflexive form s’approprier denotes the act of seizing or internalizing something to the point of making it part of oneself, sometimes with implications of control or dominance.

Etymology: The verb comes from Old French aproprier, itself from Latin appropriare, linked to proprius meaning “one’s own.” The sense expanded over time from bringing something near to what is proper or suitable for oneself to broader notions of possession and adoption.

Usage: In neutral contexts, approprier can describe legitimate acquisition or deliberate adaptation, as in “Elle s’est approprié une méthodologie efficace” (she adopted an effective methodology). In critical or negative registers, it can express illicit or inappropriate seizure, such as “aproprier des fonds publics” (to misappropriate funds) or in discussions of culture, “l’appropriation culturelle.” The reflexive form appears in phrases like “s’approprier un discours” or “s’approprier une image,” indicating assimilation into one’s own repertoire or presentation.

Conjugation: Approprier is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms include j’approprie, tu appropries, il/elle approprie, nous approprions, vous appropriez, ils/elles approprient; past participle approprié. The reflexive forms are: je m’approprie, tu t’appropries, il s’approprie, nous nous approprions, vous vous appropriez, ils s’approprient, with the passé composé in reflexive use as je me suis approprié(e).