French Conversation · Level 32
90 words
French word
grave
Pronunciation
IPA/gʁav/
Meaning
- adjectiveserious
Example
Sa blessure est grave.
The injury is serious.
More examples
Son état est grave après l'accident.
His condition is serious after the accident.
Core concept
A matter that feels weighty and serious, or, informally, simply much more intense than usual.
Common phrases
état grave
serious condition
erreur grave
serious error
situation grave
serious situation
Similar words
sérieux: Serious and not to be treated lightly.
important: Important and requiring priority.
dangereux: Likely to cause injury or damage.
inquiétant: Suggesting that something may be wrong and causing concern.
Definition in French
Qualifie quelque chose de sérieux; familièrement, utilisé comme intensif équivalent à « très ».
Word origin
The adjective grave is inherited from the Latin form gravis, whose sense of physical heaviness gave rise to the figurative sense of seriousness.
Usage tips
- Grave has the same written form for masculine and feminine singular agreement, as in un accident grave and une blessure grave.