passionnel

passionate, driven by passion

adjective pah-syoh-NEL Rare

Usage Note

passionnel agrees in gender: feminine passionnelle, plural passionnels / passionnelles. It describes actions or situations driven by intense emotion rather than reason — un crime passionnel ('a crime of passion') is the set phrase most learners encounter first. Do not confuse with passionné (passionate, enthusiastic), which describes a person's character.

Examples

"Le jury a reconnu un acte passionnel."

Natural Translation

The jury recognised a crime of passion.

Literal Translation

The jury recognised a passionate act.

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