cauchemar
/kɔʃ.maʁ/masculine
The English word 'nightmare' can be translated into French as cauchemar. Wiktionary also lists mauvais rêve.
Meaning: dream (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cauchemar | /kɔʃ.maʁ/ /koʃ.maʁ/ |
masculine |
| mauvais rêve | masculine |
Which one should you use?
cauchemar is the specific, single noun for a nightmare. In contrast, mauvais rêve is a more descriptive way to say 'bad dream'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you had a nightmare, you use the verb faire (to do/make) rather than avoir (to have). For example, you say faire un cauchemar.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔʃ.maʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The second half of cauchemar comes from a Germanic word for an 'evil spirit' or 'incubus'.
Examples in context
- J'ai fait un cauchemar.I had a nightmare.This sentence shows how to use cauchemar to say you had a nightmare.Tatoeba #126675 by TRANG, translation #28526 by CK
- C'est comme un cauchemar.It's just like a nightmare.This sentence uses cauchemar to compare a situation to a nightmare.Tatoeba #1371491 by manuk7, translation #789599 by Swift
- Sami a fait un cauchemar.Sami had a nightmare.This sentence uses cauchemar to describe someone else having a nightmare.Tatoeba #6593367 by GB3, translation #6593138 by OsoHombre
- J'ai fait un terrible cauchemar cette nuit.I had a terrible nightmare last night.
- Hier soir, j'ai vécu un véritable cauchemar.Yesterday evening, I experienced a real nightmare.
- Putain, j'ai fait un rêve qui fout trop la trouille!Damn, I had a dream that scared the hell out of me!
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking in their bedroom in the morning.
- LéaTu as fait un cauchemar ?Did you have a nightmare?
- LucasOui, c'était un vrai cauchemar.Yes, it was a real nightmare.
- LéaOh non, Lucas, je suis désolée.Oh no, Lucas, I am sorry.
- LucasCe n'est rien, ça va.It is nothing, it is okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nightmare” translations and entries cauchemar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cauchemar, mauvais, rêve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
