emprunt

loan, borrowing

noun ahm-PRAHN Rare

Origin: Old French 'emprunter' (to borrow)

Usage Note

Emprunt covers a bank loan (contracter un emprunt), a government bond (emprunt d'État), and a linguistic borrowing (un emprunt à l'anglais = a loanword from English). The verb emprunter means both 'to borrow' and 'to take (a route)'. Do not confuse emprunt with prêt (loan from the lender's perspective).

Examples

"Ils ont contracté un emprunt pour acheter leur maison."

Natural Translation

They took out a loan to buy their house.

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