French word

énigme

Pronunciation

IPA/enigm/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmystery

Example

C'est une énigme.

It's a mystery.

Illustration for énigme (mystery)

More examples

Son absence d'indice fait de cette affaire une énigme.

Its lack of a clue makes this case a mystery.

Core concept

An apparently puzzling question whose concealed solution emerges through reasoning or inquiry.

Common phrases

  • être une énigme

    be a mystery

  • rester une énigme

    remain a mystery

Similar words

mystère: An unexplained and fascinating occurrence that resists clear explanation.
problème: A serious difficulty that cannot be ignored and calls for a solution.

Definition in French

Question ou problème dont la solution n'est pas évidente et qui invite à la réflexion ou à l'enquête, parfois posé pour être deviné.

Word origin

The French noun énigme descends through Latin aenigma from Greek aínigma, a term for something expressed obscurely or allusively.

Usage tips

  • Devinette usually names a short recreational guessing riddle, while énigme also describes a difficult problem or unexplained matter.

Other meanings

  • riddlenoun
  • puzzlenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word