French Conversation · Level 13
89 words
French word
terrible
Pronunciation
IPA/tɛʁibl/
Meaning
- adjectiveawful
Example
C'est terrible.
It's awful.
More examples
Il y a eu un terrible accident sur l'autoroute.
There was a terrible accident on the highway.
Core concept
An experience that hits with overwhelming negative force, either through extreme harm or fear.
Common phrases
une nouvelle terrible
terrible news
un accident terrible
a terrible accident
une erreur terrible
a terrible mistake
Similar words
mauvais: Poor in quality or condition and failing to meet expectations or requirements.
horrible: Extremely unpleasant or frightening, and painful to see or hear.
affreux: So unpleasant and repulsive that it causes shock or disgust.
épouvantable: So dreadful that it causes intense fear or anxiety and feels unbearable.
Definition in French
Qui est très mauvais ou qui provoque une forte peur ou un choc, exprimant une intensité négative.
Word origin
The French adjective terrible descends from Latin terribilis, which was formed from terrere, 'to frighten', before gaining the broader sense of something extremely bad.
Usage tips
- In informal French, terrible can also mean excellent or impressive, so tone and context determine whether C'est terrible is negative or approving.
Other meanings
- terrifyingadjective
- tremendousadjective
Related words
- terriblementterriblyadverb