French Conversation · Level 6
87 words
French word
cruel
Pronunciation
IPA/kʁyɛl/
Meaning
- adjectivecruel
Example
C'est cruel de dire ça.
It's cruel to say that.
More examples
Son commentaire était cruel.
His comment was cruel.
Core concept
A person or act that treats another's pain as acceptable or makes it worse.
Common phrases
une personne cruelle
a cruel person
un geste cruel
a cruel gesture
Similar words
méchant: Unkind, spiteful, or cold in dealing with people.
violent: Using great force or attacking in a harmful way.
sévère: Strict and unsparing rather than gentle or lenient.
Definition in French
Qui provoque la souffrance physique ou morale d'autrui, souvent de façon délibérée.
Word origin
French cruel comes from Latin crudelis through Old French, from crudus, meaning raw or bloodied.
Usage tips
- The impersonal pattern C'est cruel de + infinitive commonly judges an act or remark rather than naming a cruel person.