formidable

The French word "formidable" has several related meanings and connotations in English.

Meaning:

1. Impressive / Great / Awesome
   In contemporary French, "formidable" is commonly used to describe something that is very good, excellent, or impressive. For example:

   • C'est un film formidable. — "It's a great film."

2. Formidable / Fearsome / Intimidating
   In a more classical or literal sense, "formidable" can mean something that inspires fear, awe, or respect due to its size, power, or intensity. This meaning aligns with the English word formidable.

Parts:

• The word is derived from Latin formidabilis, which comes from formido meaning "fear" or "terror."
• It is an adjective and does not change between masculine or feminine singular/plural forms, staying "formidable" in each case.

Synonyms:

• For the positive "awesome/great" meaning:
  • Génial (brilliant)
  • Super (great)
  • Impressionnant (impressive)
• For the fearsome meaning:
  • Redoutable (fearsome, formidable)
  • Imposant (imposing)
  • Terrifiant (terrifying)

Antonyms:

• For the "great" sense:
  • Médiocre (mediocre)
  • Mauvais (bad)
• For the "fearsome" sense:
  • Insignifiant (insignificant)
  • Faible (weak)

Summary:

• Formidable can mean both awesome, excellent in everyday speech, or fearsome, daunting in a more formal or literary context.
• Its positive use is very common in French colloquial language.