French word

incongru

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃kɔ̃gʁy/

Meaning

  • adjectiveout of place

Example

Je me sens incongru dans cette salle.

I feel out of place in this room.

Illustration for incongru (out of place)

More examples

Son rire était incongru pendant la cérémonie.

His laughter was out of place during the ceremony.

Core concept

A person, gesture, or object that disrupts the expected fit of a setting.

Common phrases

  • se sentir incongru

    feel out of place

  • un comportement incongru

    inappropriate behavior

  • un rire incongru

    out-of-place laughter

Similar words

inapproprié: Unsuitable for the setting or situation and therefore not appropriate.
déplacé: Out of place in a setting, causing discomfort or a sense of unease.
gênant: Causing embarrassment or awkwardness and making people feel uncomfortable.
maladroit: Awkward in movement or speech, likely to cause discomfort or misunderstanding.

Definition in French

Qualifie une personne, un comportement ou un objet qui semble ne pas être à sa place dans un contexte donné.

Word origin

Incongru is a learned borrowing from Latin incongruus, whose parts express the idea of not being in agreement or harmony.

Usage tips

  • Incongru can describe an action or remark as well as a person or object, so it is broader than a simple description of someone's appearance.

Other meanings

  • incongruousadjective
  • inappropriateadjective

Opposites

  • congrufittingadjective
  • appropriéappropriateadjective

Related words

  • incongruitéincongruitynoun

Word lists with this word