French word

monstre

Pronunciation

IPA/mɔ̃stʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmonster

Example

Il y a un monstre sous le lit.

There is a monster under the bed.

Illustration for monstre (monster)

More examples

Il dit que son patron est un monstre.

He says that his boss is a monster.

Core concept

An overwhelming figure looms beyond normal limits, whether it is a frightening being or a gigantic thing.

Common phrases

  • être un monstre

    be a monster

  • un monstre imaginaire

    an imaginary monster

Similar words

bête: A wild, powerful-looking animal or coarse beast.
créature: A living-looking being, including a fictional one.
ogre: A huge fictional monster from folklore that attacks people.

Definition in French

Créature ou chose remarquable par sa taille, sa force ou sa nature, utilisée au sens propre pour un être effrayant ou au sens figuré pour quelque chose d'énorme ou terrifiant.

Word origin

From Latin monstrum through Old French, monstre moved from the idea of an extraordinary sign to a creature or thing remarkable for its frightening or excessive nature.

Usage tips

  • In figurative use, un monstre de + noun describes an exceptionally powerful or immense example, as in un monstre de puissance.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word