French Conversation · Level 34
75 words
French word
affreux
Pronunciation
IPA/afʁø/
Meaning
- adjectiveawful
Example
C'est affreux.
It's awful.
More examples
Le plat avait un goût affreux.
The dish had an awful taste.
Core concept
A sight, experience, or piece of work that feels intensely unpleasant or disastrously poor.
Common phrases
un souvenir affreux
an awful memory
un goût affreux
an awful taste
Similar words
terrible: Extremely bad and leaving a strongly unfavorable impression.
horrible: Extremely unpleasant in a way that provokes fear or disgust.
mauvais: Of poor quality or in poor condition, and therefore undesirable.
dégoûtant: Provoking strong disgust when seen, tasted, or considered.
Definition in French
Qui est très désagréable, choquant ou de mauvaise qualité ; employé familièrement pour dire « très mauvais ».
Word origin
The modern form developed from Old French afreus, with historical ties to effroi and effroyable that preserve an older association with fear.
Usage tips
- The final x in affreux is silent, whereas the final s in the feminine form affreuse is pronounced like z.
Other meanings
- frighteningadjective
- disgustingadjective
- unpleasantadjective
Opposites
- formidablegreatadjective
- agréablepleasantadjective
Related words
- affreusementterriblyadverb