Voler vs. braquer vs. cambrioler vs. dévaliser
The French language has nuanced terms for different types of theft, especially those that involve varying degrees of force or strategy. Understanding the differences between 'voler', 'braquer', 'cambrioler', and 'dévaliser' reveals the subtleties in describing theft-related actions.
Voler
'Voler' is a general term for 'to steal' and can range from petty theft to grand larceny, without necessarily implying violence or force.
Il a volé un bonbon dans le magasin.
(He stole a candy from the store.)
Elle a volé des bijoux à sa voisine.
(She stole jewelry from her neighbor.)
Braquer
'Braquer' specifically refers to robbery with intimidation or the use of a firearm, typically targeting businesses or banks.
Ils ont braqué une banque hier soir.
(They robbed a bank last night.)
Le voleur a braqué le magasin avec un pistolet.
(The thief held up the store with a pistol.)
Cambrioler
'Cambrioler' means to break into and steal from a house or business, especially when the occupants are absent, focusing on the aspect of illegal entry.
La maison au coin de la rue a été cambriolée.
(The house on the corner of the street was burglarized.)
Ils ont cambriolé plusieurs appartements dans le quartier.
(They burgled several apartments in the neighborhood.)
Dévaliser
'Dévaliser' means to rob or plunder, often used when the theft is extensive or leaves little behind; it can apply to both violent and non-violent situations.
Les pirates ont dévalisé le navire marchand.
(The pirates plundered the merchant ship.)
Il a dévalisé la bijouterie en moins de cinq minutes.
(He cleaned out the jewelry store in less than five minutes.)
Summary
In summary, while 'voler' serves as a broad term for any act of theft, 'braquer' focuses on armed robbery, 'cambrioler' explicitly addresses burglary, and 'dévaliser' conveys scenes of extensive looting. Each term illuminates specific contexts and methods of theft and contributes to precise descriptions.