attendre vs guetter
French word comparison
Listen to attendre
Listen to guetter
| attendre | guetter |
|---|---|
/a-ten-DRE/ verb | //ɡɛ.te// verb |
| to wait (for); sometimes to expect | to watch out for; to lie in wait for someone or something |
How they differ
Guetter implies active surveillance or vigilance—looking attentively for the arrival or appearance of something—whereas attendre can be passive and does not necessarily include watching closely.
When to use each
When to use attendre: Prefer 'attendre' when the emphasis is simply on the fact of waiting without implying active observation.
When to use guetter: Prefer 'guetter' when you want to convey that someone is on the lookout or watching for a particular moment or person.
Side-by-side examples
- J'attends mon ami devant le cinéma.
(I'm waiting for my friend in front of the cinema.) - Je guette l'arrivée du bus au coin de la rue.
(I'm watching for the bus's arrival at the corner of the street.)
Register & nuance: Guetter is neutral but conveys a more active sense; it's common in everyday language when describing watching or spying for something.