sacré

sacred

adjective sah-KREH Less Common

Also means

damned, blessed (intensifier)

Usage Note

Sacré placed after a noun means 'sacred' or 'holy' (un lieu sacré — a sacred place). Placed before the noun it becomes a colloquial intensifier meaning 'damned' or 'blasted' (un sacré problème — 'one hell of a problem'). The feminine form is sacrée.

Examples

"C'est un lieu sacré pour les habitants."

Natural Translation

It's a sacred place for the inhabitants.

Literal Translation

It-is a place sacred for the inhabitants.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Faire in French: To Make, To Do, and More

Faire in French means more than make and do: master faire vs rendre, weather and sports idioms, the causative, and the mistakes English speakers make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read