impressionné

Impressionné is a French adjective and the past participle of the verb impressionner. It describes someone who has experienced a strong affect, typically admiration or astonishment, and is commonly used in phrases like être impressionné ou impressionné par quelqu’un ou quelque chose. The sense is subjective, emphasizing the emotional impact rather than a factual evaluation.

In usage, impressionné is most often encountered with être, as in Je suis impressionné par ta performance (I am impressed by your performance). It agrees with the subject in gender and number: impressionné (m., sg), impressionnée (f., sg), impressionnés (m., pl), impressionnées (f., pl). The verb impressionner means to cause someone to feel impressed, and its construction typically uses par to indicate the source of the impression (impressionné par). The phrase faire impression sur quelqu’un can mean to make a strong impression on someone, often with a nuance of lasting effect.

Etymology and related terms: impressionné derives from impressionner, which is linked to impression and the broader sense of making an impression or impact. It is distinct from imprimé, the past participle of imprimer, which means printed or pressed in a physical sense (as in a printed document). The adjective impressionnant (m., sg) or impressionnante (f., sg) describes something impressive in its nature or appearance, rather than a person’s feeling.

See also: impression, impressionnement (rarely used), impressionnisme (art movement).