le touché
touched
Definition & meaning
The word "touché" is the past participle of the French verb toucher. It has several distinct applications in French and international contexts:
- Physical hit: It describes something that has been physically hit, struck, or reached. In the sport of fencing, a competitor calls out "touché" to acknowledge that their opponent has successfully landed a hit.
- Emotional impact: It is used to describe a person who is emotionally moved, touched, or affected by a gesture, a story, or a kind word.
- Figurative acknowledgment: In a debate or conversation, it is used to admit that an opponent has made a valid, clever, or undeniable point. This usage has been widely adopted into the English language.
- Damage or loss: It can indicate being negatively affected by an event, such as a business being touché by a financial crisis or a person being affected by an illness.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammatically, touché is the masculine singular past participle of the verb toucher. As an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes: touchée (feminine singular), touchés (masculine plural), or touchées (feminine plural).
The word originates from the Old French "toshier," which is derived from the Vulgar Latin "toccāre." This Latin root is generally considered to be of onomatopoeic origin, intended to mimic the sound of a strike or a tap.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Atteint (hit or reached)
- Ému (emotionally moved)
- Frappé (struck)
- Affecté (affected)
- Blessé (wounded or hurt)
Antonyms:
Make “touché” part of your vocabulary.
Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Je suis touché par ton message.adjective
I am touched by your message.
Keep exploring French
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad