dramatique

dramatic

adjective drah-mah-TEEK Rare

Origin: Greek dramatikos, from drama (action, play)

Also means

tragic, serious

Usage Note

dramatique covers both theatrical drama (art dramatique = dramatic arts) and real-life gravity (une situation dramatique = a serious or tragic situation). Unlike English 'dramatic,' it rarely means 'exaggerated' in everyday speech — for that, French speakers say théâtral. Un auteur dramatique is a playwright.

Examples

"La situation est vraiment dramatique."

Natural Translation

The situation is truly serious.

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