Skip to content

souiller

to soil

verb swee-YEH Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Also means

to taint

Usage Note

Souiller is a formal or literary verb meaning to contaminate or defile, used both literally (to stain clothing) and figuratively (to taint someone's reputation). The noun souillure means 'stain' or 'defilement'. In everyday speech, salir is preferred for physical dirtying; souiller carries a moral or ritual connotation.

Examples

"La boue a souillé sa veste blanche."

Natural Translation

The mud soiled his white jacket.

Explore French by topic