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frayeur

fright, terror

noun freh-YUR Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: Old French fraeur, from Latin fragor 'crash, din'

Usage Note

Frayeur denotes a sudden intense fright, stronger than simple peur (fear) but similar to effroi. It is often triggered by an unexpected shock rather than a prolonged anxiety. Common expressions: avoir une frayeur ('to get a fright') and quelle frayeur ! ('what a scare!'). The plural frayeurs can refer to recurrent frightening experiences.

Examples

"Le bruit soudain lui a causé une grande frayeur."

Natural Translation

The sudden noise gave her a great fright.

Literal Translation

The sudden noise caused her a great fright.

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