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barbare

barbarian

noun adjective bar-BAR Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: Greek 'barbaros' (foreign, strange)

Also means

barbaric

Usage Note

Barbare functions as both a noun ('a barbarian') and an adjective ('barbaric, savage'). As an adjective it is invariable in form for masculine/feminine: un acte barbare, une coutume barbare. The noun barbarie means 'barbarity'. In colloquial speech it can describe someone behaving crudely: il est vraiment barbare ('he's really uncivilised').

Examples

"C'est un acte barbare et injustifiable."

Natural Translation

It is a barbaric and unjustifiable act.

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