l'appel du vide

noun

The urge to do something self-destructive, like jump off a ledge.

“She walked along the cliff edge, focusing on ignoring the l'appel du vide calling her to leap.”

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Meanings

nounl'appel du vide (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe urge to do something self-destructive, like jump off a ledge.

    She walked along the cliff edge, focusing on ignoring the l'appel du vide calling her to leap.

    1 more example

    "L'appel du vide someone murmurs from behind me. I startle, coming at least an inch off the ground, which moves me closer to the edge of the cliff, so that half my body dangles into space.

    2022, Erica Waters, The Restless Dark, HarperCollins

Origin

From French appel du vide (call of the void).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

l'appel du vide. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/l'appel%20du%20vide

MLA

“l'appel du vide.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/l'appel%20du%20vide. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “l'appel du vide,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/l'appel%20du%20vide.

Source: l'appel du vide on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.