involontaire

involuntary, unintentional

adjective an-voh-lohn-TEHR Rare

Usage Note

Involontaire is invariable in gender (same form for m/f). It is used in legal contexts (homicide involontaire = manslaughter) and everyday speech (un geste involontaire = an involuntary gesture). The adverb involontairement means 'involuntarily' or 'unintentionally'.

Examples

"C'était un geste involontaire, il ne voulait pas blesser."

Natural Translation

It was an involuntary gesture; he did not mean to hurt.

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