The most common way to say 'fear' in French is la peur. But this powerful emotion comes in many shades, from a slight worry to sheer terror, and the French language has a rich vocabulary to express them all. As you dive deeper into French, whether you're reading a gripping novel, watching a suspenseful film, or just want to describe your own feelings with more nuance, knowing the right word is key. Let's explore nine different ways to talk about fear in French!

1. The Standard 'Fear' – La Peur

La peur is the most common and standard noun for 'fear' in French. It's the word you'll use in most everyday situations to describe the feeling of being afraid. It covers everything from a minor fright to deep-seated terror.

An essential point to remember is that peur is a feminine noun. This means it always uses feminine articles and adjectives, such as la peur (the fear) or une grande peur (a great fear).

The most crucial construction to learn is avoir peur de, which means 'to be afraid of'. Unlike English, which uses the verb 'to be', French uses avoir (to have). The structure is avoir peur de + [noun] or avoir peur de + [infinitive verb].

J'ai peur **des** chiens. (I am afraid of dogs.) - Note: de + les becomes des
Elle a peur **de** tomber. (She is afraid of falling.)

If you want to say that something or someone scares another person, you use the expression faire peur à quelqu'un. It literally means 'to make fear to someone'.

Les orages font peur à mon chat. (Storms scare my cat.)
Arrête, tu me fais peur ! (Stop, you're scaring me!)

La peur is also found in many colorful expressions that add nuance to your French. A very common one is avoir une peur bleue, which means 'to be scared stiff' or 'to be terrified'. The literal translation is 'to have a blue fear'.

💡 * Les enfants ont peur du noir.

N'aie pas peur, tout va bien se passer.

Ce film d'horreur m'a fait très peur.

Il a surmonté sa peur de voler en avion.

J'ai eu une peur bleue quand j'ai vu l'araignée.

The 'dread' or 'apprehension' – la crainte

One of the most nuanced ways to express fear or worry in French is with the noun la crainte, which translates to 'dread' or 'apprehension'.

Unlike la peur (fear), which often refers to a direct and immediate threat, la crainte describes a more profound, lingering feeling of anxiety about something that might happen. It’s the fear of a potential, often respected, negative outcome.

The concept is frequently expressed using the verb craindre (to fear, to dread). This verb is essential for building sentences and is often followed by the subjunctive mood when expressing fear about another person's actions or a potential event.

La crainte and craindre are often found in more formal or literary contexts than la peur or avoir peur de. You might use it to talk about a general dread of the future, a fear of failure, or apprehension about a difficult conversation.

A common and useful phrase is 'dans la crainte de...' which means 'in fear of...' or 'for fear that...'. This structure helps explain the motivation behind an action driven by apprehension.

To put it simply: think of la peur as the sharp feeling you get when you see a snake, while la crainte is the constant, low-level anxiety that a snake might be hiding in the grass. It’s the difference between a shock and suspense.

💡 * Sa plus grande crainte est de décevoir ses parents.

Je crains le pire pour son examen.

Il a annulé sa présentation dans la crainte du jugement des autres.

Nous craignons qu'il ne soit trop tard pour intervenir.

The 'anguish' or 'anxiety' – l'angoisse

A powerful word in French for expressing deep distress is l'angoisse. This feminine noun translates to 'anguish' or 'anxiety' and conveys a sense of profound unease, dread, or even torment.

L'angoisse is more intense than simple worry (l'inquiétude) or stress (le stress). It often implies a physical sensation, like a tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing, that accompanies a feeling of intense fear, often without a specific, identifiable cause.

You will often see l'angoisse used with verbs like ressentir (to feel), éprouver (to experience), or provoquer (to cause). A very common and important phrase is avoir une crise d'angoisse, which means 'to have an anxiety attack' or 'a panic attack'.

The related adjective is angoissé (masculine) or angoissée (feminine), meaning 'anguished' or 'anxious'. You can use this to describe a person's state, for example: Je suis angoissé par les examens (I am anxious about the exams).

While l'angoisse and l'anxiété can be synonyms, l'angoisse often carries a more existential or visceral weight. L'anxiété is closer to the clinical or general term 'anxiety', while l'angoisse taps into a deeper sense of dread.

💡 * Face à l'inconnu, il a ressenti une profonde angoisse.

Le silence de la nuit provoquait en elle une certaine angoisse.

Il a fait une crise d'angoisse avant de monter sur scène.

Elle est souvent angoissée à l'idée de parler en public.

The 'fright' or 'scare' – la frayeur

The 'fright' or 'scare' – la frayeur

La frayeur translates to 'fright,' 'scare,' or 'terror.' It describes a sudden and intense fear, often caused by an unexpected event. Unlike la peur (fear), which can be a general or prolonged state, la frayeur is a sharp, momentary shock.

As a noun, la frayeur is feminine. This means it will be preceded by feminine articles like la or une. For example, you would say 'une grande frayeur' (a big fright).

A common expression using this word is 'avoir une frayeur' which means 'to have a scare' or 'to get a fright.' Another is 'mort de frayeur' meaning 'dead from fright' or 'scared to death.'

💡 * J'ai eu la frayeur de ma vie en voyant l'araignée. (I got the scare of my life seeing the spider.)

Le bruit soudain lui a causé une belle frayeur. (The sudden noise gave him a good scare.)

Il a crié de frayeur en regardant le film d'horreur. (He screamed in fright while watching the horror movie.)

Elle est restée paralysée par la frayeur. (She remained paralyzed by fright.)

The 'terror' or 'horror' – l'effroi

The French noun l'effroi translates to 'terror,' 'horror,' or 'dread.' It describes a profound and sudden fear that often leaves one frozen or stunned, capturing a moment of intense shock.

While la peur means 'fear' in a general sense, l'effroi is much stronger and more specific. It's not just being scared; it's a state of being horrified or aghast, often caused by witnessing something shocking and unexpected.

L'effroi is a masculine noun (un effroi). You'll most commonly see it used with the definite article l' as it refers to a specific, overwhelming feeling of dread. It is almost always used in the singular form.

This word is reserved for intense situations. Think of the feeling you'd get from a jump scare in a horror movie, witnessing a terrible accident, or suddenly realizing you are in grave danger. It conveys a sense of shock and helplessness.

The noun is directly related to the verb effrayer, which means 'to frighten' or 'to scare.' For example, 'Le bruit soudain m'a effrayé' means 'The sudden noise frightened me.'

💡 * Son visage était figé par l'effroi. (His face was frozen with horror.)

J'ai poussé un cri d'effroi en voyant la scène. (I let out a scream of terror upon seeing the scene.)

La nouvelle a rempli la population d'effroi. (The news filled the population with dread.)

Rien que d'y penser, je suis saisi d'effroi. (Just thinking about it, I am seized with terror.)

The 'panic' – la panique

When it comes to 'panic,' French keeps it simple. The direct equivalent is la panique, a feminine noun that you'll find easy to remember as it's a direct cognate.

La panique is used to describe the same feeling of sudden, uncontrollable fear as in English. You can talk about la panique générale (general panic) or a moment of pure panic. The key is to remember it's a noun: you feel or there is la panique.

This word frequently appears in set phrases. For example, céder à la panique means 'to give in to panic,' while semer la panique means 'to spread panic.' A medically relevant term you might hear is une attaque de panique (a panic attack).

To describe the action of panicking, you use the verb paniquer. It's a regular -er verb. A very common and reassuring phrase you can use is Ne panique pas ! which means 'Don't panic!'

💡 * Quand l'alarme a sonné, c'était la panique générale.

Ne panique pas, nous allons trouver une solution.

Elle a eu une attaque de panique avant son examen.

La nouvelle a semé la panique parmi les investisseurs.

The colloquial 'scare' or 'jitters' – la trouille

The word la trouille is a very common and informal way to say 'fear' in French. Think of it as the equivalent of getting 'the jitters,' 'the creeps,' or a 'big scare.' As a feminine noun (la trouille), it's used in everyday conversation to describe a feeling of fright or anxiety.

The most frequent way you'll hear la trouille is in the expression avoir la trouille, which literally means 'to have the scare' but translates to 'to be scared' or 'to have the jitters.' For a stronger, more vulgar meaning, you might hear foutre la trouille à quelqu'un, which means 'to scare the hell out of someone.'

While la peur is the standard, neutral French word for 'fear,' la trouille is distinctly colloquial and informal. Use la trouille with friends and in casual settings to convey a more visceral, gut-reaction kind of fear, whereas la peur can be used in any context, including formal ones.

💡 * J'ai eu la trouille de ma vie quand le chien a aboyé soudainement. (I got the scare of my life when the dog suddenly barked.)

Arrête de faire ce bruit, tu me fous la trouille ! (Stop making that noise, you're giving me the creeps!)

Il a la trouille de parler en public. (He has the jitters about speaking in public.)

Elle a avoué qu'elle avait la trouille avant de sauter en parachute. (She admitted she was scared before skydiving.)

The 'apprehension' of the future – l'appréhension

The French word for a sense of anxiety or worry about the future is l'appréhension. As a feminine noun, it's a direct cognate of the English "apprehension," making it easy to recognize. It captures a specific nuance of fear mixed with anticipation.

L'appréhension describes a feeling of unease or dread concerning a future event. It’s not about immediate terror, but rather a persistent worry about what might happen. It is often followed by the preposition de, for example, l'appréhension de l'échec (the apprehension of failure).

It’s important to distinguish l'appréhension from la peur (fear). While la peur is a strong, often immediate reaction to a known danger, l'appréhension is a more subtle, anticipatory anxiety about an uncertain outcome. You might feel l'appréhension before a job interview, but la peur if you see a snake.

The related verb is appréhender, which means "to be apprehensive about" or "to dread." Using this verb is a common way to express the feeling directly. For instance, J'appréhende mon rendez-vous chez le dentiste means "I'm dreading my dentist appointment."

💡 * J'ai une grande appréhension avant de prendre l'avion. (I have great apprehension before flying.)

Son appréhension était visible avant l'annonce des résultats. (His apprehension was visible before the results were announced.)

Il appréhende la réaction de ses parents. (He is apprehensive about his parents' reaction.)

L'appréhension de l'inconnu peut être paralysante. (The apprehension of the unknown can be paralyzing.)

1. Understanding 'Le Trac' (Stage Fright)

The primary French term for 'stage fright' or 'performance anxiety' is le trac. It is a masculine noun, so it is always used with masculine articles like le or un. This single word elegantly captures the feeling of nervousness before a performance or important event.

To say that someone has stage fright, you use the verb avoir (to have). The resulting expression, avoir le trac, is the most common and natural way to talk about this feeling. For example, J'ai le trac means "I have stage fright."

While it translates directly to 'stage fright,' le trac is used for more than just theatrical performances. It applies to any situation that causes pre-event anxiety, such as public speaking, taking an exam, a job interview, or even a difficult conversation.

When discussing how to handle this anxiety, French speakers often use verbs like gérer (to manage), surmonter (to overcome), or combattre (to fight). For instance, Il apprend à gérer son trac means "He is learning to manage his stage fright."

💡 * Avant de monter sur scène, j'ai toujours le trac.

Elle a un trac fou avant son entretien d'embauche.

Pour surmonter le trac, il fait des exercices de respiration.

Même les politiciens expérimentés peuvent avoir le trac avant un grand discours.

Are there other ways to say 'fear' in French?

Our guide has explored the most common and essential French words for 'fear', from the everyday peur to the more intense crainte and terreur. But the French language, rich in nuance, offers many other terms, including literary expressions, modern slang, and regional variations.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for terms like “argot pour la peur” (slang for fear) or “expressions idiomatiques sur la peur” (idiomatic expressions about fear).

When you find a new synonym for peur, be sure to check its context. Is it formal, informal, or outdated? Seeing how it's used in a sentence is the best way to understand its true meaning and avoid misunderstandings.

As you immerse yourself in French culture by watching movies (especially thrillers!), reading books, or listening to music, pay attention to how characters express fear. This is a fantastic way to discover new and authentic vocabulary.

For a deeper dive into the nuances and related terms, the Larousse dictionary entry for peur is a great starting point. It often provides synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences that can clarify usage.

I hope this article has helped you face the challenge of expressing fear in French. Let’s end with an inspiring quote from the French writer and philosopher Albert Camus: “Au milieu de l'hiver, j'apprenais enfin qu'il y avait en moi un été invincible.” (In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.) A perfect reminder of the strength within us.

'9 ways to say "fear" in French'