French word

panique

Pronunciation

IPA/panik/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpanic

Example

La foule est en panique.

The crowd is panicking.

Illustration for panique (panic)

More examples

Après l'alarme, la population a ressenti une panique générale.

After the alarm, the population experienced widespread panic.

Core concept

A calm crowd suddenly loses its inner order, with fear spreading into agitated and confused reactions.

Common phrases

  • être en panique

    be in a panic

  • une crise de panique

    a panic attack

  • la panique générale

    widespread panic

Similar words

peur: The feeling of being afraid because of danger or uncertainty.
angoisse: Severe anxiety that feels oppressive and is often linked to the future.
agitation: A state of nervous restlessness and unease.
terreur: Overwhelming fear that makes a person feel unable to move.

Definition in French

État de peur vive et soudaine entraînant agitation intérieure ou réactions désordonnées.

Word origin

French panique comes through Latin from Greek panikos, a word associated with Pan and sudden frightening disturbances.

Usage tips

  • Panique is feminine, as in la panique, and the common expression is être pris de panique, with de rather than à.

Opposites

Related words

  • paniquerpanicverb
  • paniquépanickedadjective

Word lists with this word