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gouffre

abyss, chasm

noun GOOFR Rare
Travel & Places Geography

Origin: Old French 'goufre', from Greek 'kolpos' (gulf, bay)

Also means

gulf, pit

Usage Note

Gouffre describes a deep natural chasm or bottomless pit, and is also used figuratively for an overwhelming financial drain — un gouffre financier means a money pit. The plural gouffres follows normal rules, and the word is entirely masculine.

Examples

"Le gouffre était vertigineux."

Natural Translation

The abyss was dizzying.

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