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gâter

to spoil

verb gah-TEH Less Common

Also means

to indulge

Usage Note

Gâter carries two distinct registers: spoiling a child (gâter un enfant) and ruining something, such as gâter une surprise ('to ruin a surprise'). The reflexive se gâter means the weather or a situation is turning bad, a handy idiomatic use.

Examples

"Elle aime gâter ses petits-enfants."

Natural Translation

She loves to spoil her grandchildren.

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