VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
adjectivenounnounother

saisi

seize · bring

Definition & meaning

Saisi is usually the masculine singular past participle of saisir. It can have several meanings depending on context:

  1. Seized, taken, or confiscated
    It can describe something officially taken by an authority, especially for legal or financial reasons.

    • Les biens ont été saisis = The property was seized.

  2. Entered or captured
    In computing or administration, it can mean that information has been entered into a system.

    • Le formulaire est saisi dans le système = The form has been entered into the system.

  3. Struck, overcome, or suddenly affected
    It can describe someone strongly affected by an emotion, sensation, or event.

    • Il a été saisi par la peur = He was overcome by fear.
    • Elle est saisie d’étonnement = She is struck with astonishment.

  4. Understood or grasped
    In the expression j’ai saisi, it means “I understood” or “I got it.”

    • J’ai saisi l’idée = I understood the idea.

As an adjective, it may therefore mean “seized,” “overcome,” “entered,” or “understood,” depending on the context.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Infinitive: {saisir}
  • Form: masculine singular past participle
  • Feminine: {saisie}
  • Masculine plural: {saisis}
  • Feminine plural: {saisies}

It is used with avoir in compound tenses:

  • J’ai saisi = I seized / entered / understood
  • Nous avons saisi = We seized / entered / understood

It is also used with être in the passive voice:

  • Le document a été saisi = The document was entered or seized.

The verb {saisir} belongs to the second conjugation group, whose present participle ends in -issant: saisissant. Its past participle is irregular, changing the ending to -i. The verb comes from Old French and is generally considered to have Germanic origins, although its precise etymology is debated.

Synonyms & antonyms

The appropriate synonym depends on the meaning:

  • Seized or confiscated: {confisqué} , {pris} , {appréhendé}
    {Confisqué} emphasizes official confiscation, while {pris} is more general.

  • Entered or recorded: {enregistré} , {encodé}
    These are more specifically related to data or information being entered into a system.

  • Overcome or strongly affected: {frappé} , {bouleversé} , {ému}
    {Frappé} suggests a strong impact, whereas {bouleversé} emphasizes emotional disturbance.

  • Understood: {compris} , {entendu}
    {Compris} is the most direct synonym for “understood.”

Possible antonyms also vary by meaning:

  • For “seized”: {rendu} or {restitué} — returned or restored.
  • For “entered”: {effacé} — erased.
  • For “overcome”: {indifférent} or {calme} — unaffected or calm.
  • For “understood”: {incompris} — misunderstood or not understood.

Common phrases & collocations

  • {être saisi par la peur} — to be overcome by fear
  • {être saisi d’étonnement} — to be struck with astonishment
  • {un bien saisi} — seized property
  • {un formulaire saisi} — an entered or completed form
  • {j’ai saisi} — I understood / I got it
  • {saisir une occasion} — to seize or take an opportunity

Make “saisi” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Les policiers ont saisi plusieurs objets suspects.adjective

The police seized several suspicious objects.

Le juge a saisi le tribunal rapidement.adjective

The judge quickly brought the matter before the court.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play