Usage Note
Braver takes a direct object: braver le danger ('to brave danger'), braver l'interdit ('to defy a ban'). It implies deliberate courage in the face of something frightening or forbidden, slightly more literary than défier. The adjective brave is a false friend — in French it primarily means 'good, decent' rather than 'courageous'.
Examples
"Elle a bravé la tempête pour rentrer."
Natural Translation
She braved the storm to get home.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
5 min read