French Conversation · Level 46
74 words
French word
insolite
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃solit/
Meaning
- adjectiveunusual
Example
C'est insolite.
That's unusual.
More examples
Son comportement insolite a surpris tout le monde.
His unusual behavior surprised everyone.
Core concept
An ordinary scene with one unexpected detail that immediately draws attention.
Common phrases
comportement insolite
unusual behavior
attitude insolite
unusual attitude
Similar words
surprenant: Surprising because it differs sharply from what was expected.
inattendu: Unexpected because it was not predicted in advance.
inhabituel: Rarely seen or encountered in ordinary life.
curieux: Interesting because it seems strange or mysterious.
Definition in French
Qui est rare ou surprenant parce qu'il sort de l'ordinaire.
Word origin
French insolite comes from Latin insolitus, formed with in- and solitus, and developed from the sense of something unfamiliar to something unusual.
Usage tips
- Insolite is usually placed after the noun, as in un événement insolite or une scène insolite.