French Conversation · Level 81
60 words
French word
atroce
Pronunciation
IPA/atʁɔs/
Meaning
- adjectiveawful
Example
La douleur est atroce.
The pain is awful.
More examples
La nuit a été atroce pour elle.
The night was horrible for her.
Core concept
An experience marked by overwhelming pain, terror, or cruelty that feels impossible to endure.
Common phrases
une douleur atroce
horrible pain
une souffrance atroce
horrible suffering
un cri atroce
a horrible scream
Similar words
terrible: Very bad or dangerous, causing intense distress or discomfort.
horrible: So frightening or unpleasant that it causes horror or revulsion.
douloureux: Causing physical or emotional pain.
Definition in French
Qui cause une souffrance ou une horreur extrême; très mauvais au point d'en être insupportable.
Word origin
The adjective atroce is inherited through Old French from Latin atrox, atrocis, an adjective meaning frightening or savage.
Usage tips
- The final e is silent, and the final c sounds like s, so atroce is pronounced roughly "a-tross".