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rude

rough, harsh

adjective ROOD Rare

Origin: Latin 'rudis' (raw, untrained)

Also means

rude, uncouth

Usage Note

rude is a false friend for English speakers — its primary French meaning is 'harsh' or 'tough,' not 'impolite.' A rude épreuve is a harsh trial; un rude hiver is a brutal winter. 'Impolite' in French is impoli or grossier.

Examples

"C'est un rude hiver cette année."

Natural Translation

It is a harsh winter this year.

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