French Conversation · Level 160
30 words
French word
gouffre
Pronunciation
IPA/gufʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounpit
Example
Le randonneur a évité le gouffre sur le sentier.
The hiker avoided the pit on the trail.
More examples
Il existe un gouffre entre les générations sur cette question.
There is a deep divide between generations on this issue.
Core concept
A dark chasm with sharply dropping edges and an unseen depth that becomes a metaphor for enormous loss or separation.
Common phrases
un gouffre
a deep pit
au bord du gouffre
on the brink of the abyss
un gouffre entre les générations
a deep divide between generations
Similar words
trou: A hole in the ground or an object, of any shape or depth.
précipice: A very steep drop or cliff posing a serious risk of falling.
abîme: A seemingly bottomless deep place.
fossé: A man-made ditch or moat of varying width and depth.
Definition in French
Ouverture très profonde dans le sol dont le fond est difficile à voir; au figuré, abîme ou crevasse très profonde
Word origin
The noun entered French as Old French goufre, from Old Occitan golfe and ultimately Latin colphus, a borrowing of Greek kolpos for a hollow or gulf.
Usage tips
- In phrases such as un gouffre financier, gouffre emphasizes an enormous loss or deficit rather than a literal opening.
Other meanings
- abyssnoun
- chasmnoun
Opposites
- sommetsummitnoun