impardonnable
/ɛ̃.paʁ.dɔ.nabl/
The English phrase "unforgiven" is translated into French as impardonnable.
impardonnable is used to describe an action or a crime that is too terrible to be forgiven.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, impardonnable is invariable in gender, meaning it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. To make the adjective plural, you simply add an 's' to the end.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of impardonnable is /ɛ̃.paʁ.dɔ.nabl/. It has 4 syllables.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use impardonnable hyperbolically in casual conversation to describe minor social faux pas, such as forgetting a friend's birthday or using the wrong fork.
- In a legal or highly dramatic context, rather than using impardonnable, a French speaker might use the term irrécupérable to describe a person whose character is beyond saving.
- While impardonnable is used for crimes, the word pardon is more commonly used in everyday life to say 'sorry' or 'excuse me' than the formal 'pardonnez-moi'.
Examples in context
- C'est une erreur inexcusable.It's an unforgivable mistake.
- C'est un acte grave et imperdonnable.It's a serious and unforgivable act.
- Son comportement a été impardonnable.His behavior was unforgivable.
- C'est un crime impardonnable.It is an unforgivable crime.
- Cette trahison est tout simplement impardonnable.This betrayal is simply unforgivable.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are discussing a news report about a crime.
- GabrielAs-tu vu les nouvelles sur ce vol ?Did you see the news about this robbery?
- EmmaOui, ce qu'il a fait est impardonnable.Yes, what he did is unforgivable.
- GabrielJe suis d'accord avec toi, Emma.I agree with you, Emma.
- EmmaC'est une honte pour notre société.It is a shame for our society.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry impardonnable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
