empester

to stink, to reek

verb ahm-pes-TEH Rare

Origin: From peste (plague, stench)

Also means

to infest with a foul smell

Usage Note

Empester describes a place or person that emits an overpowering bad smell. Ça empeste le tabac ('it reeks of tobacco') is a typical usage. It is more vivid than sentir mauvais. The noun la peste also means 'pest' in the sense of an annoying person, giving the verb an expressive colloquial edge.

Examples

"La cuisine empeste le poisson brûlé."

Natural Translation

The kitchen reeks of burnt fish.

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