French word

ultra

Pronunciation

IPA/yltʁa/

Meaning

  • adverbvery

Example

C'est ultra pratique pour les voyages.

It's very practical for traveling.

Illustration for ultra (very)

More examples

Ce téléphone est ultra fiable pour un usage quotidien.

This phone is extremely reliable for everyday use.

Core concept

A signal that an ordinary degree has been exceeded by a striking margin.

Common phrases

  • ultra performant

    extremely high-performing

  • ultra fiable

    extremely reliable

  • ultra moderne

    extremely modern

Similar words

super: A widely used colloquial intensifier meaning very.
très: A general intensifier meaning to a great degree.
trop: In a quantity or degree that is more than appropriate.

Definition in French

Signifie un degré très élevé, souvent employé familièrement pour insister sur une qualité ou une action.

Word origin

The French intensifier ultra is based on Latin ultra, "beyond," whose sense of excess also survives in French compounds with ultra-.

Usage tips

  • Ultra is informal and expressive, so neutral writing often replaces it with très or extrêmement when strong emphasis is unnecessary.

Opposites

  • faiblementweaklyadverb
  • modérémentmoderatelyadverb

Related words

  • ultramoderneultramodernadjective
  • ultra-rapideultrafastadjective

Word lists with this word