déranger

Déranger is a French verb that means to disturb, bother, or disrupt. It can refer to causing discomfort or trouble to a person or to disturbing the order of a situation. It is used transitively with a direct object: “Le bruit me dérange” (The noise bothers me), “Ils veulent déranger l’ordre établi” (They want to disrupt the established order).

Etymology and nuance: The verb derives from dé- plus ranger (to arrange), literally “undo the arrangement.” The sense expanded from undoing an arrangement to disturbing someone or something. The term carries a neutral to negative connotation depending on the context, and it can imply both personal bother and broader disruption.

Usage and forms: Déranger is conjugated like other -er verbs (je dérange, tu déranges, il dérange, nous dérangeons, vous dérangez, ils dérangent); past participle dérangé; auxiliary avoir (j’ai dérangé). The reflexive form se déranger exists in some contexts meaning to go to the trouble, as in “Je ne vais pas me déranger pour ça” (I’m not going to trouble myself for that) or “Désolé de te déranger” (Sorry to bother you) as a polite interruption. Related noun: dérangement (disturbance or inconvenience). It has synonyms such as gêner, troubler, importuner, perturber.