affreux
/a.fʁø/
The English phrase awful can be translated into French using affreux, horrible or épouvantable.
Meaning: very bad (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| affreux | /a.fʁø/ |
| horrible | /ɔ.ʁibl/ |
| épouvantable | /e.pu.vɑ̃.tabl/ |
These words are used to describe something that is very bad.
Which one should you use?
While horrible is a cognate used very similarly to the English word 'horrible', épouvantable is often used to describe situations or qualities that are 'appalling' or 'dreadful' in scale or intensity.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective affreux takes the feminine form affreuse. The adjective horrible takes the plural form horribles when used with plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word affreux is pronounced /a.fʁø/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While affreux usually means 'awful', it can be used as a colloquial intensifier to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when paired with a positive adjective.
- The word affreux is derived from affres, which specifically refers to the 'anguish' or 'great fear' felt during intense physical or mental suffering.
- In casual spoken French, horrible is often used as a hyperbolic reaction to minor inconveniences, far more frequently than the English word 'horrible' is used for the same things.
Examples in context
- Ça a été horrible.It was awful.This sentence is useful for saying that something was awful using horrible.Tatoeba #4542908 by sacredceltic, translation #2248803 by CK
- Quelle horrible mère !What an awful mother!This sentence is useful for describing an awful mother using horrible.Tatoeba #4818066 by sacredceltic, translation #4495390 by CK
- Ça a dû être horrible.It must've been awful.This sentence is useful for expressing that something must have been awful using horrible.Tatoeba #12956082 by lbdx, translation #3178586 by CK
- C'était une expérience détestableIt was an awful experience
- C'est une situation horribleIt's an awful situation
- La guerre est une réalité atroceWar is an awful reality
- Ce film est vraiment nulThis movie is really awful
- J'ai mangé un plat vraiment pourri hier soirI had a really awful dish last night
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are discussing a meal they had at a new restaurant.
- ManonTu as aimé ton plat, Nathan ?Did you like your dish, Nathan?
- NathanNon, c'était affreux.No, it was awful.
- ManonVraiment ? C'est dommage.Really? That's a shame.
- NathanOui, le service était aussi très mauvais.Yes, the service was also very bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “awful” translations and entries affreux, horrible, épouvantable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries affreux, horrible, épouvantable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
