introuvable

French

Etymology

From in- +‎ trouvable.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.tʁu.vabl/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

introuvable (plural introuvables)

  1. unfindable
  2. (by extension) unobtainable or nonexistent
    • 1906, George Bernanos, Unpublished correspondences:
      Mais, ce problème-là, personne ne le résoudra jamais, et c'est folie que de s'obstiner à en chercher l'introuvable solution.
      But this problem, no one will ever solve it, and it is madness to persist in seeking an [lit. the] nonexistent solution for it.
  3. (hyperbolic) elusive, rare

Noun

introuvable m (plural introuvables)

  1. something that's unobtainable
    chercher l'introuvableto seek the unobtainable

Further reading