Étonnante

Étonnante is the feminine singular form of the French adjective étonnant. It means "astonishing," "surprising," or "remarkable" and is used to describe a feminine noun. In usage, it often conveys a notable degree of wonder or admiration and appears in both literary prose and everyday speech.

It derives from the verb étonner, meaning to astonish. The adjective retains that sense of provoking astonishment, but functions as a modifier for feminine nouns.

Grammar and examples: Étonnante agrees with the noun in gender and number. Forms include étonnante (f. sing.), étonnantes (f. pl.); masculine forms are étonnant (m. sg.) and étonnants (m. pl.). Examples: Une découverte étonnante; Des résultats étonnants.

Usage and nuance: In French, étonnante can carry a neutral to positive tone, depending on context. It is common in journalism, essays, and literary prose, and it conveys a stronger sense of wonder than milder terms like surprenant in ordinary speech.

Translations and related forms: In English, é-tonnante is rendered as "astonishing" or "astonishingly" depending on usage. Related forms include étonnant (m. sg), étonnants (m. pl), and étonnantes (f. pl). Synonyms encompass surprenant and stupéfiant, while antonyms might include banal or ordinaire.