French Conversation · Level 129
42 words
French word
péripétie
Pronunciation
IPA/peʁipesi/
Meaning
- feminine nounincident
Example
Nous avons eu une péripétie pendant le voyage.
We had an incident during the trip.
More examples
Le projet a connu plusieurs péripéties avant d'être terminé.
The project went through several incidents before it was completed.
Core concept
A sudden turn in the road of events, creating a memorable episode without necessarily causing serious harm.
Common phrases
avoir une péripétie
have an incident
une péripétie imprévue
an unexpected incident
enchaîner des péripéties
go through a series of incidents
Similar words
événement: An event that occurs at a particular time.
incident: An unexpected event that may cause a minor problem.
contretemps: A brief setback or delay that disrupts a plan.
mésaventure: An unfortunate experience involving minor bad luck or failure.
Definition in French
Événement imprévu ou épisode marquant, souvent soudain, qui modifie le cours d'une action, d'une histoire ou d'une situation.
Word origin
The French noun péripétie is a learned borrowing from Greek peripeteia, which described a reversal in dramatic action.
Usage tips
- Péripétie often presents an inconvenience or adventure in a relatively light way, while problème or incident can sound more direct or serious.
Other meanings
- mishapnoun
Opposites
- routineroutinenoun
- prévisibilitépredictabilitynoun