embarasser

Embarasser is a French verb whose standard modern spelling is embarrasser, with a double r. An older or less common variant, embarasser (one r), appears in some texts but is generally regarded as nonstandard in contemporary usage. The verb has several related senses and can be used in both transitive and pronominal forms.

The primary sense is to embarrass someone, causing them discomfort, awkwardness, or shame. Example: Elle m’a embarrassé devant mes collègues. A second sense is to hinder, obstruct, or impede movement or progress; for instance, des broussailles peuvent embarasser le chemin, meaning they block or hamper the way. A third sense, especially in formal or literary French, is to burden oneself with something or to take on unnecessary obligations, often expressed reflexively as s’embarrasser de qqch.

Conjugation and usage notes: embarrasser is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms include j’embarrasse, tu embarrasses, il/elle embarasse, nous embarrassons, vous embarrassez, ils/elles embarrassent. The past participle is embarrassé, used with auxiliary être in the pronominal form (se). The reflexive form s’embarrasser de indicates “to burden oneself with” or “to get involved with” something, and may convey that the speaker considers the matter unnecessary or bothersome.

See also: embarrassment, the English calque, and related expressions about hindering or burdening oneself. Embarrasser is common in everyday French for social awkwardness, while the sense of hindering or burdening is often found in descriptive or literary contexts.