Skip to content

âpre

harsh

adjective APR Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Textures

Origin: Latin asper (rough, harsh)

Also means

bitter

Usage Note

Âpre describes a sensory harshness (a bitter taste, a biting cold) or a figurative intensity (a fierce struggle). The common idiom âpre au gain means 'eager for profit' or 'money-grubbing', applied to people driven relentlessly by financial interest. The related adverb âprement (bitterly, fiercely) is used in sports reporting: ils ont âprement combattu.

Examples

"La dispute a été âpre et douloureuse pour tous."

Natural Translation

The dispute was harsh and painful for everyone.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic