Incroyable

Incroyable is a French adjective meaning “incredible” or “unbelievable.” It describes something that is difficult to imagine or to believe, and it can refer to people, events, or phenomena. In everyday usage, incroyable can appear before or after the noun for emphasis, such as “un fait incroyable” or “un incroyable talent.” The word functions as a strong descriptive term and is commonly found in both spoken and written French.

Etymology and forms: Incroyable derives from Latin incredibilis, meaning “not to be believed,” and entered French via Old French as increible or increible before evolving into incroyable. The feminine form is aussi incroyable, and the adverbial form is incroyablement. The term shares its semantic field with related words such as merveilleux and surprenant, but its nuance emphasizes astonishment or disbelief.

Historical usage: In the late 18th century, during the French Directory, “Les Incroyables” was the nickname for a fashionable, aristocratic faction known for extravagant dress and provocative attitudes. Their style contrasted with the “Merveilleuses,” and the duo helped define a distinct cultural moment in post-revolutionary France.

Cultural presence: Beyond grammar, incroyable appears across literature, media, and everyday speech as a versatile intensifier. In idiomatic use, one might exclaim “C’est incroyable!” to express astonishment, or describe a remarkable achievement as “un talent incroyable.” The term remains central in discussions of French vocabulary for expressing surprise and admiration.