subodorer

fr
en
Change language
Translating...
sense, suspect, have a hunch, scent, smell from afar
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
Italiano
Italian
/sy.bɔ.dɔ.ʁe/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
To detect something before it becomes clear.
Practice using subodorer in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Le renard subodora sa proie dans le sous-bois.
    The fox scented its prey in the undergrowth.
  • Il subodorait que la réunion serait annulée.
    He had a hunch that the meeting would be cancelled.
  • Je subodore un piège derrière cette offre généreuse.
    I sense a trap behind this generous offer.
  • Il disait subodorer la fumée bien avant les autres.
    He said he could smell the smoke long before the others.
  • Les chevaux subodoraient déjà l'écurie lointaine.
    The horses could already smell the distant stable.

Similar words

humer
pressentir
sentir
flairer
soupçonner
flairer
deviner

Meanings

Sense a hidden fact

verb
intuition
neutral
To suspect or guess something hidden from slight clues rather than clear proof.

Examples

  • Je subodore un piège derrière cette offre généreuse.
    I sense a trap behind this generous offer.
  • Elle a subodoré un conflit avant que personne n'en parle.
    She sensed a conflict before anyone spoke of it.
  • Les enquêteurs subodorent une fraude sans encore avoir de preuve.
    The investigators suspect fraud without yet having proof.
  • Il subodorait que la réunion serait annulée.
    He had a hunch that the meeting would be cancelled.
  • Nous avons vite subodoré une erreur dans les chiffres.
    We soon suspected an error in the figures.

Similar words

flairer
pressentir
soupçonner
deviner

Catch a scent

verb
smell
archaic
In older usage, to catch an odour from a distance.

Examples

  • Le chien subodorait la piste avant de l'apercevoir.
    The dog scented the trail before seeing it.
  • Les chevaux subodoraient déjà l'écurie lointaine.
    The horses could already smell the distant stable.
  • Elle semblait subodorer l'odeur du pain derrière la porte.
    She seemed to catch the smell of bread behind the door.
  • Le renard subodora sa proie dans le sous-bois.
    The fox scented its prey in the undergrowth.
  • Il disait subodorer la fumée bien avant les autres.
    He said he could smell the smoke long before the others.

Similar words

flairer
sentir
humer

Etymology

Built with sub-, suggesting something beneath the surface, and odorer, “to smell”. The physical idea of scent developed into intuition.

FAQ

What does subodorer mean today?

To suspect or sense something without firm proof.

Can it introduce que?

Yes: subodorer que something is happening.

Did it once mean to smell?

Yes, a dated literal sense meant detecting an odour.

Is it the same as knowing?

No, it conveys a hunch or suspicion.

What is the past participle?

Subodoré.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...