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une âme noire
/yn‿ɑm nwaʁ/◆idiom
a person with a wicked or evil nature
Il a une âme noire, incapable de remords.
He has a black soul, incapable of remorse.
literaryinformal
A metaphorical expression describing someone with a cruel, malevolent, or morally corrupt nature, often associated with a lack of empathy or remorse.
Les criminels les plus dangereux ont souvent une âme noire.
The most dangerous criminals often have a black soul.
Son regard trahissait une âme noire, froide et calculatrice.
His gaze betrayed a black soul, cold and calculating.
This expression is often used in literature, psychology, and social commentary to describe extreme moral depravity.
Collocations
avoir une âme noireto have a black soulune âme noire et froidea cold, black soul
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
The association of black with evil is a common trope in Western literature and media, influencing the meaning of this phrase.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
This phrase is strong and dramatic; use it sparingly to maintain its impact.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'âme' (soul) with 'noire' (black), leveraging the cultural association of black with evil or darkness in Western symbolism.
Usage Notes
This idiom is more common in literary or dramatic contexts than in everyday speech. It is often used to describe villains or morally irredeemable characters.
Word Breakdown
âme
soul
rootnoire
black
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais