intrigue
/ɛ̃.tʁiɡ/
The English phrase "movie plot" is translated into French as intrigue.
The term refers to the sequence of events and the main story line of a film. In a formal context, you might see the phrase L'intrigue du film used to mean "the movie plot."
Which one should you use?
While 'intrigue' can mean a secret scheme or conspiracy in English, in the context of cinema, it refers specifically to the narrative structure or storyline.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the word for plot is a noun that is almost always used with a definite article when referring to a specific movie's plot.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ɛ̃.tʁiɡ/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word intrigue can be used to describe a secret romantic affair, a meaning entirely separate from a film's story.
- Because intrigue stems from the verb intriguer, using the word for a movie plot can subtly imply that the sequence of events is designed to pique or arouse the viewer's curiosity.
- While an English speaker might use 'plot' to describe the actual written script, a French speaker would use scénario for the script and reserve intrigue for the actual story unfolding on screen.
Examples in context
- L'intrigue est très complexe.The plot is very complex.
- L'intrigue de ce film est très complexe.The plot of this movie is very complex.
- Je ne comprends pas bien l'intrigue.I don't quite understand the plot.
- Une intrigue originale est nécessaire pour ce scénario.An original plot is necessary for this script.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are discussing a film they just watched.
- ManonQu'est-ce que tu as pensé de l'intrigue ?What did you think of the plot?
- HugoC'était un peu trop compliqué pour moi.It was a bit too complicated for me.
- ManonMoi, j'ai adoré le suspense de l'intrigue.I loved the suspense of the plot.
- HugoC'est vrai, la fin était surprenante.That's true, the ending was surprising.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry intrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries intrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
