Learning French: when and why do we say s’emballer?
Say this to describe getting carried away or overly invested in a situation
S’emballer does not refer to wrapping yourself up with gift paper, however it will be the ribbon to top off your everyday French conversations
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At this festive time of year, most of us will connect emballer to the idea of wrapping presents. However, this verb actually has more than one meaning, especially when used in its reflexive form.
S’emballer is a term used to describe getting ahead of yourself or ‘wrapped up’ in a particular person, problem or thing.
We look at how to avoid confusing these different meanings and give tips on when to use s’emballer in everyday conversation.
What does s’emballer mean?
The verb emballer refers to the idea of wrapping or packaging something up.
The se pronoun in s’emballer slightly changes the verb meaning. When a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) appears between the subject and the verb, this means that the subject carries out an action on itself.
Read also: Grammar points to watch out for in spoken French
It therefore literally translates as, ‘to wrap oneself,’ evoking images of getting cosy in layers of warm clothing, or being taped under sheets of gift paper.
S’emballer is actually used to express the idea of being thrilled, getting carried away, or losing control of a situation.
It is similar to the phrase, ‘to get wrapped up in…’ describing the act of being extremely interested or invested in someone or something.
It can also refer to something that rockets or moves at high speed.
When do you say s’emballer?
When using this term, you must remember to choose the correct reflexive pronoun depending on the subject of the verb.
You can say it when describing someone who gets ahead of themselves or who loses control of a situation:
La discussion est devenue très intense parce que j'étais de plus en plus en colère. Je me suis emballé. - The discussion got very intense because I was becoming more and more angry. I spun out of control.
Nous nous emballons d’avance pour l'aventure qui nous attend ! - We are thrilled in advance by the adventure ahead of us.
It can also be negated and used as a warning not to get carried away:
S’emballer can also refer to something which moves quickly:
You might even find yourself mixing both meanings of emballer to describe someone who is a keen gift-wrapper:
Read also: Wrap your way to an eco-Christmas with Ancient Japanese art
To whom do you say s’emballer?
It is neutral language and can be used in a variety of contexts, from formal to informal.
We are sure that you will get wrapped up in finding opportunities to use s’emballer in your everyday French conversations with friends, family or strangers.
Read also: Mastering French: Understanding 'péché mignon' and other guilty pleasures
