French Conversation · Level 112
59 words
French word
épouvantable
Pronunciation
IPA/epuvɑ̃tabl/
Meaning
- adjectiveawful
Example
C'est épouvantable.
It's awful.
More examples
Le temps était épouvantable.
The weather was appalling.
Core concept
Something so bad or shocking that it overwhelms normal judgment and can inspire fear.
Common phrases
une situation épouvantable
an appalling situation
un film épouvantable
an appalling film
un temps épouvantable
appalling weather
Similar words
terrible: Extremely bad and serious enough to cause significant harm or damage.
horrible: Horrifying or revolting to see or hear.
affreux: So unpleasant and disagreeable that it is hard to endure.
mauvais: Not good in quality or condition, and not desirable.
Definition in French
Qui est très mauvais, choquant ou effrayant.
Word origin
Épouvantable derives from the verb épouvanter with the productive suffix -able, and épouvanter goes back through Old French forms to Latin expaventare, related to pavere, "to fear."
Usage tips
- In modern French, épouvantable often means "awful" or "terrible" in evaluative contexts, without implying literal fear.
Other meanings
- terrifyingadjective
- appallingadjective
Opposites
- merveilleuxwonderfuladjective
- excellentexcellentadjective
Related words
- épouvanterhorrifyverb
- épouvanteterrornoun
- épouvantablementappallinglyadverb