Terrible
Terrible 30秒で
- Means 'awful' formally.
- Means 'awesome' informally.
- 'Pas terrible' means mediocre.
- Can mean 'extreme' or 'intense'.
- Formal Meaning
- In formal contexts, literature, and news reporting, terrible strictly means extremely bad, causing fear, or disastrous. It is used to describe events that bring suffering or extreme discomfort.
Le tremblement de terre a été une catastrophe terrible.
- Informal Meaning
- In casual conversations among friends, family, or younger generations, terrible is a strong positive intensifier. It means something is exceptionally good, impressive, or highly enjoyable.
Ce nouveau jeu vidéo est vraiment terrible !
- Intensifier Meaning
- Beyond good and bad, terrible can simply mean 'extreme' or 'formidable'. It amplifies the noun it modifies, indicating a high degree of intensity, such as extreme weather or intense pain.
Il fait un froid terrible aujourd'hui.
Elle a un caractère terrible.
C'est une nouvelle terrible pour la famille.
- Placement After Noun
- When placed after the noun, terrible usually retains its objective, literal meaning of causing terror, being awful, or being extremely intense. This is the standard position for this adjective in everyday language.
Nous avons entendu un bruit terrible dans la nuit.
- Placement Before Noun
- Placing terrible before the noun adds subjective emotional weight or literary flair. It emphasizes the speaker's feelings about the intensity or dreadfulness of the noun.
Ils ont survécu à une terrible tempête.
- Negative Construction
- The phrase 'pas terrible' is an extremely common idiom. It is an understatement (litotes) meaning that something is mediocre, disappointing, or not very good. It never means 'not awful'.
Le repas à la cantine était pas terrible aujourd'hui.
Son dernier film est vraiment terrible, tu dois le voir !
J'ai une terrible envie de chocolat.
- News and Media
- In journalism and formal broadcasts, terrible is strictly used to denote tragedy, severity, or disaster. It is a powerful word meant to evoke sympathy or alarm among the audience.
Les conséquences de la guerre sont terribles.
- Everyday Conversation
- In cafes, at parties, or among friends, terrible frequently takes on its colloquial positive meaning. It is used to express enthusiasm, approval, or excitement about something.
Cette soirée est terrible, je m'amuse trop !
- Literature and Art
- In literature, terrible is often placed before the noun to create a poetic or dramatic effect. It emphasizes the emotional impact of the noun it describes, whether it be a 'terrible secret' or a 'terrible beauty'.
Il gardait un terrible secret depuis son enfance.
La tempête a frappé avec une force terrible.
Leur performance sur scène était tout simplement terrible.
- Misinterpreting the Positive
- Learners often fail to recognize the colloquial positive meaning of terrible. When used as an exclamation ('C'est terrible !') in a casual setting, it almost always means 'That is amazing!' rather than 'That is awful!'.
Ton idée pour les vacances est terrible ! (Meaning: great idea)
- Misunderstanding Pas Terrible
- Translating 'pas terrible' literally as 'not terrible' (meaning 'not bad' or 'okay') is a major mistake. In French, 'pas terrible' means 'mediocre', 'disappointing', or 'not great'. It is a negative assessment.
Le livre que j'ai lu n'est pas terrible. (Meaning: it is not good)
- Using it Inappropriately in Formal Contexts
- Using terrible to mean 'awesome' in a formal essay, a professional email, or a job interview is a mistake in register. In formal situations, terrible must only be used to mean 'awful' or 'severe'.
La situation économique actuelle est terrible.
Il a fait une erreur terrible au travail.
C'est un musicien terrible ! (Informal: he is great)
- Negative Synonyms
- Words like horrible (horrible) and affreux (awful) are excellent substitutes when you want to ensure your meaning is strictly negative. Unlike terrible, these words do not have a colloquial positive meaning.
C'est une situation terrible (ou horrible).
- Positive Synonyms
- When you want to express that something is amazing without using slang, words like génial (great) or fantastique (fantastic) are perfect alternatives to the colloquial use of terrible.
Ce concert était terrible (ou génial) !
- Intensifier Synonyms
- When terrible is used to mean 'extreme' (e.g., un froid terrible), you can substitute it with words like extrême, intense, or violent to convey the same degree of severity.
Il a une douleur terrible (ou intense) au dos.
Le vent est terrible (ou violent) ce soir.
C'est un film terrible (ou épouvantable) à regarder.
How Formal Is It?
難易度
知っておくべき文法
Adjective agreement (epicene adjectives)
Adjective placement (BANGS rule exceptions)
Litotes and understatement
Intensifiers
Semantic shift in slang
レベル別の例文
C'est un accident terrible.
It is a terrible accident.
Adjective placed after the noun.
Le monstre est terrible.
The monster is terrible/scary.
Used with the verb être.
Il fait un temps terrible.
The weather is terrible.
Common expression for bad weather.
C'est une terrible nouvelle.
It is terrible news.
Placed before the noun for emphasis.
Le film est terrible.
The movie is terrible (bad).
Basic descriptive use.
J'ai un problème terrible.
I have a terrible problem.
Modifying a masculine noun.
La tempête était terrible.
The storm was terrible.
Feminine singular agreement.
Ce sont des choses terribles.
These are terrible things.
Plural agreement (terribles).
Ce repas n'est pas terrible.
This meal is not great.
Idiomatic negative meaning 'mediocre'.
Il a une douleur terrible au ventre.
He has a terrible pain in his stomach.
Used to describe intense physical sensation.
C'est pas terrible comme idée.
It's not a great idea.
Informal spoken structure.
Ils ont fait une erreur terrible.
They made a terrible mistake.
Modifying a feminine noun.
Le bruit était vraiment terrible.
The noise was really terrible/loud.
Intensified with 'vraiment'.
C'est un endroit terrible.
It is a terrible place.
Describing a location.
Ton dessin n'est pas terrible.
Your drawing is not very good.
Using 'pas terrible' for evaluation.
Nous avons eu une peur terrible.
We had a terrible fright.
Used with abstract nouns like fear.
Ce nouveau jeu vidéo est terrible !
This new video game is awesome!
Colloquial positive meaning.
La soirée d'hier était terrible.
Yesterday's party was great.
Informal positive use in the past tense.
Franchement, son discours n'était pas terrible.
Honestly, his speech wasn't great.
Used with 'franchement' for opinion.
Il a un accent terrible en anglais.
He has a terrible accent in English.
Can mean very strong or very bad.
C'est un musicien terrible, tu dois l'écouter.
He is an awesome musician, you have to listen to him.
Positive slang use.
Elle a subi un choc terrible.
She suffered a terrible shock.
Formal negative meaning.
Leur nouvel album est tout simplement terrible.
Their new album is simply awesome.
Intensified with 'tout simplement'.
Je trouve que ce restaurant est pas terrible.
I find that this restaurant is mediocre.
Expressing personal opinion.
Il est d'une exigence terrible avec ses employés.
He is terribly demanding with his employees.
Used with 'd'une... terrible' to mean extreme.
C'est l'enfant terrible de la mode française.
He is the enfant terrible of French fashion.
Fixed expression 'enfant terrible'.
La pression au travail est devenue terrible.
The pressure at work has become terrible.
Describing intense psychological states.
Cette voiture a une accélération terrible.
This car has incredible acceleration.
Meaning 'impressive' or 'powerful'.
Il a prononcé des mots terribles qu'il regrette.
He said terrible words that he regrets.
Meaning hurtful or severe.
Le suspense dans ce roman est terrible.
The suspense in this novel is intense.
Meaning extreme or gripping.
C'est un secret terrible qu'elle a gardé toute sa vie.
It is a terrible secret she kept all her life.
Literary placement and tone.
Son dernier spectacle ? Pas terrible, pour être honnête.
His last show? Not great, to be honest.
Elliptical sentence structure.
La tempête a frappé la côte avec une violence terrible.
The storm hit the coast with terrible violence.
Used to describe extreme force.
Il voue une haine terrible à ses anciens associés.
He harbors a terrible hatred for his former partners.
Modifying abstract emotions.
C'est une vérité terrible à admettre.
It is a terrible truth to admit.
Used with an infinitive construction.
Leur ironie était d'une efficacité terrible.
Their irony was terribly effective.
Meaning formidable or impressive.
Il a traversé une épreuve terrible avec beaucoup de courage.
He went through a terrible ordeal with a lot of courage.
Formal narrative style.
Ce vin a un goût de bouchon terrible.
This wine has a terrible corked taste.
Meaning very pronounced/bad.
La chaleur est terrible dans cette région en été.
The heat is extreme in this region in summer.
Meaning unbearable or intense.
C'est un paradoxe terrible de notre société moderne.
It is a terrible paradox of our modern society.
Used in sociological or philosophical contexts.
L'auteur dépeint la guerre avec un réalisme terrible.
The author depicts the war with terrible realism.
Meaning striking or shocking.
Il fut saisi d'une angoisse terrible à l'idée de l'échec.
He was seized by a terrible anguish at the thought of failure.
Literary expression of emotion.
Cette décision aura des répercussions terribles sur l'économie.
This decision will have dire repercussions on the economy.
Meaning disastrous or severe.
Sous des dehors affables, c'est un négociateur terrible.
Beneath his affable exterior, he is a formidable negotiator.
Meaning uncompromising or ruthless.
La beauté terrible de ce paysage volcanique fascine les touristes.
The terrible beauty of this volcanic landscape fascinates tourists.
Oxymoronic use (sublime).
Il a fait preuve d'une lucidité terrible face à la mort.
He showed terrible lucidity in the face of death.
Meaning piercing or absolute.
C'est un gâchis terrible de voir un tel talent inexploité.
It is a terrible waste to see such talent unexploited.
Expressing profound regret.
La solitude de l'écrivain est une condition terrible mais nécessaire.
The solitude of the writer is a terrible but necessary condition.
Philosophical observation.
類義語
反対語
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
よく混同される語
慣用句と表現
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
Never translate 'not terrible' directly to 'pas terrible' if you mean 'it was okay'. 'Pas terrible' always means 'bad' or 'mediocre'.
- Translating 'not terrible' directly as 'pas terrible' when meaning 'it was okay'.
- Using 'terrible' to mean 'awesome' in a formal job interview.
- Adding an extra 'e' for feminine nouns (e.g., writing 'terriblee').
- Assuming 'terrible' always has a negative meaning in spoken French.
- Failing to recognize that 'un enfant terrible' is a specific idiom, not just a badly behaved child.
ヒント
Watch the Context
Always rely on context to translate 'terrible'. A 'terrible accident' is bad, but a 'terrible gâteau' (cake) is usually very good.
Epicene Adjective
Don't try to add an extra 'e' for feminine nouns. 'Terrible' is the same for both masculine and feminine. Just add 's' for plural.
Master 'Pas Terrible'
Memorize that 'pas terrible' means 'mediocre'. Use it when you want to politely say something wasn't very good, like a meal or a movie.
Roll the R
To sound more authentic, give a slight emphasis to the French 'R' in the middle of the word, especially when using it as an exclamation.
Keep it Formal at Work
Never use 'terrible' to mean 'great' in formal writing or at work. Stick to 'excellent' or 'très bien' to avoid confusion.
Enfant Terrible
Learn the phrase 'enfant terrible'. It's a great cultural reference that shows a high level of vocabulary and cultural understanding.
Use it for Extremes
You can use 'terrible' to describe anything extreme, like 'une chaleur terrible' (extreme heat) or 'un bruit terrible' (a very loud noise).
Tone is Everything
When listening to native speakers, their tone of voice will instantly tell you if 'terrible' is a compliment or a complaint.
Placement for Drama
In creative writing, put 'terrible' before the noun (e.g., une terrible nuit) to make your sentence sound more dramatic and literary.
Mix it Up
Don't overuse 'terrible'. Mix in words like 'génial' for good things and 'horrible' for bad things to make your French richer.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Imagine a TERRIBLE monster that is actually AWESOME at dancing.
語源
Latin
文化的な背景
Used universally in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec, though slang usage may vary slightly.
Semantic shift occurred primarily in the 20th century.
Highly dependent on context. Formal = negative. Informal = positive.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"As-tu vu le dernier film ? Il est terrible !"
"Quel temps terrible aujourd'hui, non ?"
"Tu trouves que ce restaurant est pas terrible ?"
"C'est une nouvelle terrible, tu en as entendu parler ?"
"Il a un caractère terrible, comment tu fais ?"
日記のテーマ
Racontez une expérience qui était 'terrible' (dans le sens négatif).
Décrivez un film ou une chanson que vous trouvez 'terrible' (dans le sens positif).
Pourquoi pensez-vous que les mots changent de sens avec le temps ?
Décrivez un 'enfant terrible' que vous connaissez.
Racontez une fois où vous avez eu une 'peur terrible'.
よくある質問
10 問It can mean both! In formal French, it means bad, awful, or terrifying. In informal, spoken French, it often means awesome or great. You have to look at the context and the speaker's tone to know which one they mean.
'Pas terrible' is a very common expression that means 'mediocre', 'disappointing', or 'not very good'. It does NOT mean 'not awful'. If a movie is 'pas terrible', it means it wasn't a good movie.
Like most French adjectives, 'terrible' usually goes after the noun (e.g., un accident terrible). However, for stylistic or emotional emphasis, it can sometimes be placed before the noun (e.g., une terrible erreur).
Because 'terrible' already ends in an 'e', the masculine and feminine singular forms are exactly the same. To make it plural, you simply add an 's' to the end, making it 'terribles' for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.
No, you should avoid doing that. In formal or professional contexts, 'terrible' retains its strict, negative meaning of 'awful' or 'severe'. If you write that a project is 'terrible' to your boss, they will think it is a disaster.
An 'enfant terrible' is a phrase used in both French and English. Originally, it meant a child who embarrasses adults by saying inappropriate truths. Today, it usually refers to a famous person (like an artist or designer) who is brilliant but highly unorthodox, rebellious, or controversial.
Context and body language are your best clues. If someone is smiling, laughing, and talking about a party, food, or a movie, 'terrible' means awesome. If they look sad, serious, and are talking about an accident or illness, it means awful.
Yes, 'terrible' is much stronger than 'mauvais' (bad). 'Mauvais' is a standard descriptor, while 'terrible' is an intensifier that implies extreme severity, horror, or dread (in its negative sense).
Yes, absolutely. 'Un temps terrible' means very bad, severe weather, usually involving storms, heavy rain, or extreme cold. It is a very common collocation in French.
If you want to say something is awesome without using slang, you can use words like 'génial', 'super', 'fantastique', or 'formidable'. These words clearly express a positive meaning without the ambiguity of 'terrible'.
自分をテスト 200 問
Write a sentence describing a bad storm using 'terrible'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence saying a movie is mediocre using 'pas terrible'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a slang sentence saying a concert was awesome using 'terrible'.
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Describe a severe pain you had using 'terrible'.
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Write a formal sentence about a tragic event using 'terrible'.
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Use 'terrible' before a noun for dramatic effect in a sentence.
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Write a sentence using the plural form 'terribles'.
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Explain in French what 'un enfant terrible' means.
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Write a dialogue where one person uses 'terrible' positively and the other is confused.
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Describe extreme cold weather using 'terrible'.
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Write a review of a restaurant saying the food was 'pas terrible'.
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Write a sentence using 'terriblement'.
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Describe a loud noise using 'terrible'.
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Write a sentence about a 'terrible secret'.
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Use 'terrible' to describe someone's bad temper.
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Write a sentence comparing 'terrible' and 'génial'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Describe a 'beauté terrible' (sublime beauty).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a formal news headline using 'terrible'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a text message to a friend saying a party is awesome using 'terrible'.
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Write a sentence explaining why 'terrible' is a false friend.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
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/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'terrible' is a chameleon; it means 'awful' in formal situations, but 'awesome' in slang. Always check the context!
- Means 'awful' formally.
- Means 'awesome' informally.
- 'Pas terrible' means mediocre.
- Can mean 'extreme' or 'intense'.
Watch the Context
Always rely on context to translate 'terrible'. A 'terrible accident' is bad, but a 'terrible gâteau' (cake) is usually very good.
Epicene Adjective
Don't try to add an extra 'e' for feminine nouns. 'Terrible' is the same for both masculine and feminine. Just add 's' for plural.
Master 'Pas Terrible'
Memorize that 'pas terrible' means 'mediocre'. Use it when you want to politely say something wasn't very good, like a meal or a movie.
Roll the R
To sound more authentic, give a slight emphasis to the French 'R' in the middle of the word, especially when using it as an exclamation.
関連コンテンツ
generalの関連語
à cause de
A2「〜のせいで」や「〜が原因で」を意味する前置詞句。通常、否定的または中立的な原因を説明する際に使われます。
à côté
A2〜の隣に;〜のそばに。
à côté de
A2Next to, beside.
À droite
A2右へ、または右側に。例:「次の角を右に曲がってください」。
À gauche
A2To the left; on the left side.
à la
A2前置詞「à」と女性定冠詞「la」の組み合わせで、「〜へ」や「〜に」を意味します。
à laquelle
B2To which; at which (feminine singular).
à mesure que
B2〜するにつれて。
abrégé
B1An abstract, summary, or abridgment.
absence
A2The state of being away from a place or person.