Skip to content

électrochoc

electroconvulsive therapy, electric shock treatment

noun eh-lek-troh-SHOK Rare

Usage Note

Électrochoc refers to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) used in psychiatry, but is also used figuratively for any sudden, jarring shock that forces change (un électrochoc économique). In medical contexts, the more technical term sismothérapie or électroconvulsivothérapie is used by professionals; électrochoc is the common register.

Examples

"Ce discours a été un véritable électrochoc pour l'équipe."

Natural Translation

That speech was a real shock to the team.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic