intenter

institute (legal action)

verb an-tahn-TEH Rare

Origin: Latin 'intentare', to stretch toward.

Usage Note

Intenter is a legal term used almost exclusively in the phrase intenter un procès ('to bring a lawsuit') or intenter une action en justice ('to file legal proceedings'). It is formal and rarely used outside legal writing. The agent noun demandeur refers to the party who initiates the suit.

Examples

"Ils ont intenté un procès contre l'entreprise."

Natural Translation

They filed a lawsuit against the company.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

How to Pronounce the French R (Step by Step)

The French R is a back-of-the-throat sound, not a rolled R. Learn the exact tongue position and a step-by-step drill to build it from sounds you already make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

How to Say "I Miss You" in French (Without Errors)

"I miss you" in French is Tu me manques, not Je te manque. Learn the subject-flip behind manquer so you never text the opposite of what you mean.

June 4, 2026 6 min read