French word

ogre

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔgʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounogre

Example

Dans le conte, l'ogre mange les enfants.

In the tale, the ogre eats the children.

Illustration for ogre (ogre)

More examples

Après la randonnée, il a mangé comme un ogre.

After the hike, he ate like an ogre.

Core concept

A huge, threatening tale creature that treats children as food.

Common phrases

  • manger comme un ogre

    eat like an ogre

Similar words

monstre: An imagined being portrayed as terrifying and dangerous.
géant: A very large, powerful humanoid being.
démon: A malevolent supernatural being in religion or legend.
troll: A rough folklore creature known for troubling or tricking people.

Definition in French

Personnage monstrueux des contes, souvent très grand et menaçant, associé à l'idée de manger des enfants.

Word origin

The French noun ogre comes through Italian orco from Latin Orcus, a name associated with the underworld, before developing its familiar fairy-tale meaning.

Usage tips

  • French ogre is pronounced roughly /ɔɡʁ/, with a silent final e, unlike the common English pronunciation with a final vowel.

Other meanings

  • monsternoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word