When you learn a new language, one of the first words you might want to know is “monster.” It’s a fun and useful word to add to your vocabulary. You can use it when talking about stories, movies, or even imaginary creatures. In French, there are several ways to say “monster,” depending on the situation.
In this article, we will explore how to say “monster” in French, along with other related expressions. You’ll also learn how to respond when someone mentions a monster, practice using these words, and discover fun ways to improve your skills. By the end, you’ll feel confident using these words in real-life conversations.
Ways to Say Monster in French
The word “monster” can be translated into French in several ways. The most common term is “monstre,” but there are other expressions depending on context, tone, or even specific uses in stories and everyday speech. Below, you’ll find some popular ways to say “monster” in French, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and examples.
1. Monstre
Pronunciation: mohn-struh
Meaning: Monster (general term).
In a Sentence:
- Le monstre sous mon lit m’a effrayé. (The monster under my bed scared me.)
- Ce film parle d’un monstre géant. (This movie is about a giant monster.)
2. Bête
Pronunciation: beht
Meaning: Beast or monster (can also mean “animal”).
In a Sentence:
- Cette bête féroce vit dans la forêt. (This ferocious beast lives in the forest.)
- Ils croyaient qu’une bête mythique protégeait le trésor. (They believed a mythical beast protected the treasure.)
3. Créature
Pronunciation: kray-ah-toor
Meaning: Creature, often used for fantastical monsters.
In a Sentence:
- Une étrange créature a été aperçue dans le lac. (A strange creature was spotted in the lake.)
- La créature dans le conte était terrifiante. (The creature in the tale was terrifying.)
4. Ogre
Pronunciation: oh-gruh
Meaning: Ogre, a type of monster in folklore.
In a Sentence:
- L’ogre voulait dévorer les enfants. (The ogre wanted to eat the children.)
- Ils ont raconté une histoire d’un ogre terrifiant. (They told a story about a terrifying ogre.)
5. Chimère
Pronunciation: shee-mehr
Meaning: Chimera, a mythical monster with parts of different animals.
In a Sentence:
- La chimère crachait du feu dans la légende. (The chimera breathed fire in the legend.)
- Une chimère est souvent décrite comme un monstre hybride. (A chimera is often described as a hybrid monster.)
6. Diable
Pronunciation: dee-ah-bluh
Meaning: Devil or demon, sometimes used to describe a monstrous being.
In a Sentence:
- Ils disaient qu’un diable habitait cette grotte. (They said a devil lived in this cave.)
- Le diable est souvent représenté comme un monstre effrayant. (The devil is often portrayed as a scary monster.)
7. Géant
Pronunciation: zhay-ahn
Meaning: Giant, a large monster-like figure.
In a Sentence:
- Un géant a détruit le village dans l’histoire. (A giant destroyed the village in the story.)
- Ce géant est le gardien du pont magique. (This giant is the guardian of the magical bridge.)
8. Fantôme
Pronunciation: fahn-tohm
Meaning: Ghost or phantom, sometimes considered a type of monster.
In a Sentence:
- Un fantôme hante le vieux château. (A ghost haunts the old castle.)
- Ils ont vu un fantôme terrifiant dans la nuit. (They saw a terrifying ghost in the night.)
9. Dragon
Pronunciation: drah-gon
Meaning: Dragon, a mythical fire-breathing monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le dragon protégeait sa caverne pleine de trésors. (The dragon protected its treasure-filled cave.)
- Ils ont combattu un dragon dans leur quête. (They fought a dragon in their quest.)
10. Spectre
Pronunciation: spehk-truh
Meaning: Specter or ghost, often used for eerie or monstrous spirits.
In a Sentence:
- Le spectre a traversé les murs sans bruit. (The specter passed through the walls silently.)
- Ils ont cru voir un spectre dans le cimetière. (They thought they saw a specter in the cemetery.)
11. Mutant
Pronunciation: mew-tahn
Meaning: Mutant, a monster-like creature resulting from mutation.
In a Sentence:
- Ce mutant a été créé dans un laboratoire. (This mutant was created in a lab.)
- Ils ont dû fuir un mutant géant dans le jeu. (They had to escape a giant mutant in the game.)
12. Croque-mitaine
Pronunciation: crohk-mee-tan
Meaning: Bogeyman, a monster used to scare children.
In a Sentence:
- Le croque-mitaine est une histoire pour faire peur aux enfants. (The bogeyman is a story to scare children.)
- Le croque-mitaine apparaît souvent dans les contes de fées. (The bogeyman often appears in fairy tales.)
13. Loup-garou
Pronunciation: loo-gah-roo
Meaning: Werewolf, a human who turns into a monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le loup-garou hurla à la pleine lune. (The werewolf howled at the full moon.)
- Ils ont découvert que le loup-garou vivait parmi eux. (They discovered that the werewolf lived among them.)
14. Démon
Pronunciation: day-mohn
Meaning: Demon, a monster associated with evil.
In a Sentence:
- Un démon est souvent décrit avec des cornes et des ailes. (A demon is often described with horns and wings.)
- Le démon terrifiait tous les habitants. (The demon terrified all the villagers.)
15. Monstrueux
Pronunciation: mohn-stroo-uh
Meaning: Monstrous, used to describe something like a monster.
In a Sentence:
- Cette créature monstrueuse effrayait tout le monde. (This monstrous creature scared everyone.)
- Une tempête monstrueuse a détruit la ville. (A monstrous storm destroyed the city.)
16. Gargouille
Pronunciation: gahr-goo-yuh
Meaning: Gargoyle, a stone creature often seen in architecture and legends.
In a Sentence:
- La gargouille s’anima sous la lumière de la lune. (The gargoyle came to life under the moonlight.)
- Cette vieille église est décorée de gargouilles effrayantes. (This old church is decorated with frightening gargoyles.)
17. Hydre
Pronunciation: eed-ruh
Meaning: Hydra, a multi-headed monster from mythology.
In a Sentence:
- L’hydre avait sept têtes dans le mythe grec. (The hydra had seven heads in Greek mythology.)
- Il fallait une grande bravoure pour combattre l’hydre. (Great bravery was needed to fight the hydra.)
18. Zombie
Pronunciation: zom-bee
Meaning: Zombie, an undead creature.
In a Sentence:
- Le zombie avançait lentement vers eux. (The zombie slowly moved toward them.)
- Ils ont joué à un jeu vidéo avec des zombies. (They played a video game with zombies.)
19. Sorcier
Pronunciation: sor-syay
Meaning: Sorcerer, sometimes seen as a monstrous or magical figure.
In a Sentence:
- Le sorcier maléfique vivait dans une tour sombre. (The evil sorcerer lived in a dark tower.)
- Un sorcier transforma le prince en crapaud. (A sorcerer turned the prince into a frog.)
20. Géant de pierre
Pronunciation: zhay-ahn duh pee-air
Meaning: Stone giant, a massive monster made of rock.
In a Sentence:
- Le géant de pierre gardait le passage secret. (The stone giant guarded the secret passage.)
- Ils ont dû réveiller le géant de pierre pour continuer leur voyage. (They had to awaken the stone giant to continue their journey.)
21. Esprit
Pronunciation: es-pree
Meaning: Spirit or ghost, often used for a supernatural monster.
In a Sentence:
- L’esprit hantait la maison depuis des siècles. (The spirit haunted the house for centuries.)
- Ils ont tenté de chasser l’esprit maléfique. (They tried to drive out the evil spirit.)
22. Harpie
Pronunciation: ar-pee
Meaning: Harpy, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and face of a woman.
In a Sentence:
- La harpie vola au-dessus des marins effrayés. (The harpy flew over the frightened sailors.)
- Ils se sont défendus contre une harpie enragée. (They defended themselves against an enraged harpy.)
23. Troll
Pronunciation: trohl
Meaning: Troll, a large and often slow-witted monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le troll vivait sous le pont. (The troll lived under the bridge.)
- Ils ont vu un troll géant dans la montagne. (They saw a giant troll in the mountain.)
24. Minotaure
Pronunciation: mee-noh-tor
Meaning: Minotaur, a creature with the body of a man and head of a bull.
In a Sentence:
- Le minotaure gardait le labyrinthe. (The minotaur guarded the labyrinth.)
- Ils ont entendu parler d’un minotaure légendaire. (They heard about a legendary minotaur.)
25. Basilic
Pronunciation: bah-zee-leek
Meaning: Basilisk, a mythical serpent-like monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le basilic pétrifiait tous ceux qui croisaient son regard. (The basilisk turned anyone who looked at it to stone.)
- Ils ont combattu un basilic dans le donjon. (They fought a basilisk in the dungeon.)
26. Revenant
Pronunciation: ruh-vuh-nahn
Meaning: Revenant, a ghost or undead being.
In a Sentence:
- Un revenant était visible dans les ruines. (A revenant was visible in the ruins.)
- Les habitants craignaient l’apparition d’un revenant. (The villagers feared the appearance of a revenant.)
27. Ombre
Pronunciation: ohm-bruh
Meaning: Shadow, sometimes used to describe a mysterious monster.
In a Sentence:
- Une ombre mystérieuse rôdait dans la nuit. (A mysterious shadow roamed in the night.)
- Ils ont senti une ombre étrange près de la grotte. (They felt a strange shadow near the cave.)
28. Vampire
Pronunciation: vahm-peer
Meaning: Vampire, a mythical blood-sucking monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le vampire sortait uniquement la nuit. (The vampire only came out at night.)
- Ils ont vu un vampire dans le vieux château. (They saw a vampire in the old castle.)
Other Ways to Say Monster in French
Below is a table of other ways to say “monster” in French. These expressions can be used in different situations, from casual conversations to storytelling.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Créature fantastique | kray-ah-toor fan-tas-teek | Fantastic creature | Une créature fantastique vivait dans la montagne. (A fantastic creature lived in the mountain.) |
| Monstre mythique | mohn-struh mee-teek | Mythical monster | Le monstre mythique protégeait la grotte secrète. (The mythical monster protected the secret cave.) |
| Bête sauvage | beht sah-vahzh | Wild beast | Une bête sauvage a été vue dans la forêt. (A wild beast was seen in the forest.) |
| Ombre mystérieuse | ohm-bruh mee-steer-yuhz | Mysterious shadow | L’ombre mystérieuse se déplaçait lentement. (The mysterious shadow moved slowly.) |
| Être maléfique | eh-truh mah-lay-feek | Evil being | Un être maléfique vivait dans ce château. (An evil being lived in this castle.) |
| Monstre géant | mohn-struh zhay-ahn | Giant monster | Un monstre géant marchait dans la ville. (A giant monster walked through the city.) |
| Créature étrange | kray-ah-toor ay-trahnzh | Strange creature | Ils ont découvert une créature étrange dans la rivière. (They discovered a strange creature in the river.) |
| Animal terrifiant | ah-nee-mal tehr-ree-fee-ahn | Terrifying animal | Cet animal terrifiant chasse la nuit. (This terrifying animal hunts at night.) |
| Apparition fantomatique | ah-pah-ree-syon fahn-toh-mah-teek | Ghostly apparition | Une apparition fantomatique est apparue à minuit. (A ghostly apparition appeared at midnight.) |
| Créature monstrueuse | kray-ah-toor mohn-stroo-uhz | Monstrous creature | La créature monstrueuse hurlait dans la nuit. (The monstrous creature howled in the night.) |
| Esprit maléfique | es-pree mah-lay-feek | Evil spirit | Un esprit maléfique hante cette maison. (An evil spirit haunts this house.) |
| Légende effrayante | lay-zhend eh-fray-yahnt | Frightening legend | Une légende effrayante parle d’un monstre marin. (A frightening legend speaks of a sea monster.) |
| Figure sinistre | fee-gure see-nees-truh | Sinister figure | Une figure sinistre était visible dans la brume. (A sinister figure was visible in the mist.) |
Response to Monster in French
When someone mentions a “monster” in French, there are various ways to respond based on the context. Your reaction could express surprise, fear, humor, or curiosity. Below are some common and useful responses you can use to react naturally in French conversations.
1. Vraiment ?
Pronunciation: vray-mahn
Meaning: Really?
In a Sentence:
- Vraiment ? Un monstre ici ? (Really? A monster here?)
- Vraiment ? Tu l’as vu ? (Really? Did you see it?)
2. Où ça ?
Pronunciation: oo sah
Meaning: Where?
In a Sentence:
- Où ça ? Montre-moi ! (Where? Show me!)
- Où ça ? Je veux le voir. (Where? I want to see it.)
3. Ce n’est pas possible !
Pronunciation: suh neh pah poh-see-bluh
Meaning: That’s not possible!
In a Sentence:
- Ce n’est pas possible ! Tu plaisantes. (That’s not possible! You’re joking.)
- Un monstre ? Ce n’est pas possible ! (A monster? That’s not possible!)
4. C’est effrayant !
Pronunciation: say eh-fray-yahn
Meaning: That’s scary!
In a Sentence:
- C’est effrayant ! Que fait-on ? (That’s scary! What do we do?)
- Un monstre géant ? C’est effrayant ! (A giant monster? That’s scary!)
5. Vite, cache-toi !
Pronunciation: veet, cash-twah
Meaning: Quick, hide!
In a Sentence:
- Vite, cache-toi ! Le monstre arrive ! (Quick, hide! The monster is coming!)
- Cache-toi derrière moi ! (Hide behind me!)
6. C’est incroyable !
Pronunciation: say ahn-kwah-yah-bluh
Meaning: That’s incredible!
In a Sentence:
- C’est incroyable ! Tu as vu un monstre ? (That’s incredible! You saw a monster?)
- C’est incroyable, raconte-moi tout. (That’s incredible, tell me everything.)
7. Je veux voir ça.
Pronunciation: juh vuh vwar sah
Meaning: I want to see that.
In a Sentence:
- Je veux voir ça ! Où est-il ? (I want to see that! Where is it?)
- Si c’est vrai, je veux voir ça. (If it’s true, I want to see that.)
8. Est-ce dangereux ?
Pronunciation: es suh dahn-zhuh-ruh
Meaning: Is it dangerous?
In a Sentence:
- Est-ce dangereux ? Devons-nous partir ? (Is it dangerous? Should we leave?)
- Un monstre ? Est-ce dangereux ? (A monster? Is it dangerous?)
9. Je ne te crois pas.
Pronunciation: juh nuh tuh krwah pah
Meaning: I don’t believe you.
In a Sentence:
- Je ne te crois pas. C’est une blague ? (I don’t believe you. Is it a joke?)
- Un monstre ? Je ne te crois pas. (A monster? I don’t believe you.)
10. Dis-moi tout.
Pronunciation: dee mwah too
Meaning: Tell me everything.
In a Sentence:
- Dis-moi tout, qu’as-tu vu ? (Tell me everything, what did you see?)
- Un monstre ? Dis-moi tout. (A monster? Tell me everything.)
11. Ça doit être fascinant.
Pronunciation: sah dwah tet fah-see-nahn
Meaning: That must be fascinating.
In a Sentence:
- Ça doit être fascinant de voir un monstre. (That must be fascinating to see a monster.)
- Un monstre ancien ? Ça doit être fascinant. (An ancient monster? That must be fascinating.)
12. Allons voir !
Pronunciation: ah-lohn vwar
Meaning: Let’s go see!
In a Sentence:
- Allons voir ! Où est-il ? (Let’s go see! Where is it?)
- Si c’est un monstre, allons voir. (If it’s a monster, let’s go see.)
13. Ce n’est qu’une légende.
Pronunciation: suh neh kyoon lay-zhend
Meaning: It’s just a legend.
In a Sentence:
- Ce n’est qu’une légende, pas de panique. (It’s just a legend, don’t panic.)
- Les monstres ? Ce n’est qu’une légende. (Monsters? It’s just a legend.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Monster” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using the various ways to say “monster” in French. Each sentence is followed by its meaning in English. After the exercises, the answers are provided.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Le ______ sous mon lit m’empêche de dormir.
(The monster under my bed keeps me from sleeping.) - Ils ont vu une ______ étrange près de la rivière.
(They saw a strange creature near the river.) - Cette ______ maléfique hante ce vieux château.
(This evil spirit haunts the old castle.) - Le ______ de pierre garde l’entrée secrète.
(The stone giant guards the secret entrance.) - Les enfants ont peur du ______.
(The children are afraid of the bogeyman.) - Une ______ gigantesque s’est réveillée après des siècles.
(A gigantic beast woke up after centuries.) - Le héros doit combattre une ______ pour sauver la ville.
(The hero must fight a chimera to save the city.) - Il a raconté une légende sur un ______ effrayant.
(He told a legend about a frightening monster.) - Un ______ a détruit la tour dans le conte.
(A dragon destroyed the tower in the tale.) - La vieille église est décorée de ______ mystérieuses.
(The old church is decorated with mysterious gargoyles.) - Ils ont croisé un ______ dans la forêt.
(They crossed paths with a troll in the forest.) - Le ______ hurla à la pleine lune.
(The werewolf howled at the full moon.)
Answers
- Monstre
- Créature
- Esprit
- Géant
- Croque-mitaine
- Bête
- Chimère
- Monstre
- Dragon
- Gargouilles
- Troll
- Loup-garou
Conclusion
Learning how to say “monster” in French opens the door to fun and creative conversations. Whether you’re discussing a scary movie, telling a thrilling story, or exploring mythical creatures, having a variety of words at your fingertips adds depth and excitement to your language skills.
Practice these terms regularly, and soon you’ll feel comfortable using them in different contexts. By expanding your vocabulary and trying out the exercises, you’ll not only improve your French but also make talking about “monsters” an enjoyable part of your learning journey. Keep exploring, and let your imagination bring these words to life!