French word

pauvre

Pronunciation

IPA/povʁ/

Meaning

  • adjectivepoor

Example

Il est pauvre.

He is poor.

Illustration for pauvre (poor)

More examples

Ce village est très pauvre.

This village is very poor.

Core concept

A person or household with little money, possessions, or material security.

Common phrases

  • être pauvre

    be poor

  • pays pauvre

    poor country

  • très pauvre

    very poor

Similar words

démuni: Lacking the basic necessities needed for everyday life.
modeste: Having a relatively low income or standard of living.
misérable: Living in extreme poverty and severe hardship.

Definition in French

Qui manque de moyens matériels ou d'argent ; qui vit dans la pauvreté.

Word origin

The French adjective pauvre is inherited from Latin pauper through the Old French form povre.

Usage tips

  • Before a person noun, pauvre can suggest misfortune or pity, as in pauvre homme, whereas homme pauvre usually stresses economic poverty.

Other meanings

  • pitifuladjective
  • paupernoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word