French Conversation · Level 71
60 words
French word
spectre
Pronunciation
IPA/spɛktʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounghost
Example
J'ai vu un spectre hier soir près du vieux pont.
I saw a ghost last night near the old bridge.
More examples
Les enfants ont eu peur en croyant apercevoir un spectre.
The children were frightened when they thought they caught sight of a ghost.
Core concept
A faint human-shaped presence that seems to belong to someone dead, appearing or being felt in a dim place.
Common phrases
avoir peur d'un spectre
be afraid of a ghost
apercevoir un spectre
catch sight of a ghost
Similar words
fantôme: A common term for the visible appearance of a deceased person's form or presence.
Definition in French
Être ou apparition que l'on croit être l'esprit d'une personne morte; présence surnaturelle parfois visible ou ressentie.
Word origin
French spectre comes from Latin spectrum, meaning an apparition, from a root linked to looking or seeing.
Usage tips
- Spectre is more literary or figurative than the common everyday word fantôme for a ghost.