Also means
obstacle, encumbrance
Usage Note
Hypothèque is the standard term for a mortgage on property. Prendre une hypothèque means to take out a mortgage; lever une hypothèque means to pay it off. Figuratively it is used to mean a burden or obstacle weighing on a project: lever une hypothèque sur l'avenir (to remove an obstacle to the future).
Examples
"Ils ont contracté une hypothèque sur leur maison."
Natural Translation
They took out a mortgage on their house.

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
FrenchNow
7 min read
FrenchNow
6 min read