le cauchemar
nightmare
Rêve désagréable qui fait peur ou met mal à l’aise et qui peut réveiller la personne qui dort.
Word: cauchemar
Language: French
Meaning in English: nightmare
Explanation:
The word "cauchemar" refers primarily to a bad dream, something frightening or unpleasant that one experiences during sleep. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any distressing, difficult, or unpleasant situation or experience in waking life, often called a "nightmare" in English as well.
Breakdown of the word:
- The term comes from Old French cauchemar, which is a combination of "cauch-" (related to "to press down," from verb cauchier meaning to trample or press) and mar (related to the evil spirit or goblin believed to cause bad dreams).
- So, the word literally evokes the idea of a "pressing evil spirit" or a "pressing feeling" during sleep.
Synonyms:
- Nightmare (English equivalent)
- mauvais rêve (literally "bad dream" in French, though less intense)
- songe effrayant (frightening dream)
Antonyms:
- rêve agréable (pleasant dream)
- songe doux (sweet dream)
Usage Examples:
- J'ai fait un cauchemar terrible cette nuit.
— I had a terrible nightmare last night. - Cette situation est un vrai cauchemar.
— This situation is a real nightmare.
Summary:
"Cauchemar" means a nightmare—a frightening dream or a metaphor for a very bad, stressful experience. It carries a sense of discomfort and fear, either during sleep or in real-life situations.
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Examples
Les cauchemars ont troublé mon sommeil récemment.noun
Nightmares have disturbed my sleep recently.
Un vieux cauchemar est revenu sans prévenir.noun
An old nightmare returned without warning.
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