Verb conjugation

diffamer

to defame; smear; ruin the name of

Usage

The legal/formal verb for defaming or slandering someone — making false statements that damage their reputation. It's the verb behind the noun diffamation, a specific criminal and civil offense in French law, not a vague synonym for 'insult.'

Examples

Le journal a été poursuivi pour l'avoir diffamé. — The newspaper was sued for defaming him.
Elle affirme que ces propos la diffament. — She claims those remarks defame her.
Il est interdit de diffamer publiquement une personne. — It is illegal to publicly defame a person.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use diffamer loosely for any insult — legally and in careful usage, diffamer specifically means making a false factual claim that harms someone's reputation, not simply being rude or insulting.

Simple tenses

Present

je	diffame
tu	diffames
il/elle	diffame
nous	diffamons
vous	diffamez
ils/elles	diffament

Imperfect

je	diffamais
tu	diffamais
il/elle	diffamait
nous	diffamions
vous	diffamiez
ils/elles	diffamaient

Past historic (passé simple)

je	diffamai
tu	diffamas
il/elle	diffama
nous	diffamâmes
vous	diffamâtes
ils/elles	diffamèrent

Future

je	diffamerai
tu	diffameras
il/elle	diffamera
nous	diffamerons
vous	diffamerez
ils/elles	diffameront

Conditional

je	diffamerais
tu	diffamerais
il/elle	diffamerait
nous	diffamerions
vous	diffameriez
ils/elles	diffameraient

Subjunctive

je	diffame
tu	diffames
il/elle	diffame
nous	diffamions
vous	diffamiez
ils/elles	diffament

Subjunctive (imperfect)

je	diffamasse
tu	diffamasses
il/elle	diffamât
nous	diffamassions
vous	diffamassiez
ils/elles	diffamassent

Imperative

tu	diffame
nous	diffamons
vous	diffamez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

je	ai diffamé
tu	as diffamé
il/elle	a diffamé
nous	avons diffamé
vous	avez diffamé
ils/elles	ont diffamé

Plus-que-parfait

je	avais diffamé
tu	avais diffamé
il/elle	avait diffamé
nous	avions diffamé
vous	aviez diffamé
ils/elles	avaient diffamé

Passé antérieur

je	eus diffamé
tu	eus diffamé
il/elle	eut diffamé
nous	eûmes diffamé
vous	eûtes diffamé
ils/elles	eurent diffamé

Futur antérieur

je	aurai diffamé
tu	auras diffamé
il/elle	aura diffamé
nous	aurons diffamé
vous	aurez diffamé
ils/elles	auront diffamé

Conditionnel passé

je	aurais diffamé
tu	aurais diffamé
il/elle	aurait diffamé
nous	aurions diffamé
vous	auriez diffamé
ils/elles	auraient diffamé

Subjonctif passé

je	aie diffamé
tu	aies diffamé
il/elle	ait diffamé
nous	ayons diffamé
vous	ayez diffamé
ils/elles	aient diffamé

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

je	eusse diffamé
tu	eusses diffamé
il/elle	eût diffamé
nous	eussions diffamé
vous	eussiez diffamé
ils/elles	eussent diffamé

Impératif passé

tu	aie diffamé
nous	ayons diffamé
vous	ayez diffamé

Other

Present participle

diffamant

Past participle

diffamé

Infinitive

diffamer

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "diffamer" mean?

"diffamer" means "to defame; smear; ruin the name of".

How do you conjugate "diffamer" in the present tense?

The present of "diffamer" is: je diffame, tu diffames, il/elle diffame, nous diffamons, vous diffamez, ils/elles diffament.

What is the Passé composé of "diffamer"?

The passé composé of "diffamer" is: je ai diffamé, tu as diffamé, il/elle a diffamé, nous avons diffamé, vous avez diffamé, ils/elles ont diffamé.

What is the Imperative of "diffamer"?

The imperative of "diffamer" is: tu diffame, nous diffamons, vous diffamez.

diaprer-dicter-diffamer-diffluer-difformer