séloigner

S’éloigner is a French pronominal verb meaning to move away or to distance oneself from something or someone. It can describe a physical departure from a place as well as a figurative distancing in relationships, opinions, or situations. The verb is used with the preposition de when indicating what is being left behind (s’éloigner de quelque chose) and can also occur with from a person or group (s’éloigner de quelqu’un). In its active non-pronominal form, éloigner means to move something away from something else (éloigner quelqu’un de quelque chose).

Etymology: s’éloigner comes from Old French esloigner, from loing “distance” or “far,” with a prefix É- that signals separation. The modern form preserves this sense of moving away or distancing.

Conjugation and forms: s’éloigner is an -er verb and conjugates with auxiliary être in compound tenses because it is pronominal. Present tense: je m’éloigne, tu t’éloignes, il s’éloigne, nous nous éloignons, vous vous éloignez, ils s’éloignent. Passé composé: je me suis éloigné(e). Imperfect: je m’éloignais. Future: je m’éloignerai. Subjonctif: que je m’éloigne. Imperative: éloigne-toi; éloignons-nous; éloignez-vous.

Noun and related forms: éloignement (the act or state of moving away, distance); éloigné(e) as an adjective meaning distant.

Usage notes: The reflexive form emphasizes the subject’s own action or change in position or stance. The verb can express physical relocation, social estrangement, or emotional distancing, often with nuanced subjectivity in literary and everyday contexts.