incroyable
C'est incroyable comme tu as changé !
It's incredible how much you've changed!
too extraordinary or improbable to be believed; amazing
Ce film est incroyable, il m'a fait pleurer.
This movie is incredible; it made me cry.
Son talent est incroyable pour son âge.
His talent is incredible for his age.
Often used to emphasize strong positive or negative surprise.
unbelievable; hard to accept as true
L'histoire qu'il a racontée était incroyable.
The story he told was unbelievable.
Can imply skepticism or doubt about the truthfulness of a statement.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid literal translation for emphasis
While 'incredible' is the direct translation, 'incroyable' can also mean 'unbelievable' or 'amazing' depending on context. Pay attention to tone and surrounding words to choose the right nuance.
Gold Rule
Positive vs. negative surprise
In positive contexts, 'incroyable' expresses admiration (e.g., 'Un incroyable paysage!'). In negative contexts, it can express skepticism or disbelief (e.g., 'Son excuse était incroyable.' = 'His excuse was unbelievable.').
Word Origin
From Old French *incroyable* (12th century), from Latin *incredibilis* ('unbelievable'), from *in-* (negative prefix) + *credibilis* ('believable').
Usage Notes
Used in both positive and negative contexts. In positive contexts, it emphasizes admiration or astonishment. In negative contexts, it may imply skepticism or disbelief. Common in spoken and written French.