jouir

to enjoy, to delight in

verb zhoo-EER Less Common

Origin: Old French 'joir', from Latin 'gaudere'

Also means

to have an orgasm (explicit)

Usage Note

Jouir is a formal or literary way to say 'to enjoy' (jouir d'une bonne réputation = to enjoy a good reputation), but its second, very explicit sexual meaning is well known to all speakers. Learners should use profiter de or apprécier in most everyday contexts to avoid ambiguity.

Examples

"Il jouit d'une grande liberté dans son travail."

Natural Translation

He enjoys great freedom in his work.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Ordering Food in French: Restaurant Phrases That Work

Order food in French with confidence: greet first, say je voudrais not je veux, ask for a carafe d'eau, answer quelle cuisson, and request the bill yourself.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 70, 80, 90 Made Simple

French numbers 70, 80, 90 are soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. Learn three build formulas to make any number 70-99 on the fly.

June 3, 2026 5 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