prévenir

Senses

1. 1.

   to warn

   to inform someone in advance of a danger or problem

2. 2.

   to notify

   to inform or alert someone of something

3. 3.

   to prevent

   to stop something from happening before it occurs

4. 4.

   to forestall

   to act in advance to prevent or avoid something

Examples

• "Je dois te prévenir : la route est dangereuse."

  I must warn you: the road is dangerous.

• "Pouvez-vous prévenir le directeur de ma démission ?"

  Can you notify the manager of my resignation?

• "Il faut prévenir les accidents en portant une ceinture de sécurité."

  We must prevent accidents by wearing a seatbelt.

Usage

Prévenir is a common transitive verb with distinct uses: "prévenir quelqu'un" (warn/notify someone), and "prévenir quelque chose" (prevent something). It is often followed by the preposition "de" or a direct object. Confusion with "empêcher" (to prevent, stop) or "avertir" (to warn) is possible but these have slightly different emphases.