Borrowed in the 15th century from Catalan galera, ultimately related to Byzantine Greek galea, galère first named the vessel. Its punishment sense dates from the Renaissance, and the modern difficulty sense grew from the harsh life associated with the oars.
What does galère mean in modern French?
In everyday speech, galère means a nightmare, ordeal, or difficult situation, and c'est galère means it is difficult or troublesome.
What was a galère historically?
A galère was a long vessel powered mainly by oars and used for war or trade until the 18th century.
What did les galères mean as a punishment?
Les galères were forced labour aboard royal galleys for convicted men known as galériens.
Is galère masculine or feminine?
The noun galère is feminine, so French says une galère. The informal adjective is invariable.
How do you pronounce galère?
Galère is pronounced /ga.lɛʁ/, with two syllables and the open vowel /ɛ/.
What is the difference between c'est la galère and c'est galère?
Both mean a situation is very difficult. C'est la galère uses the noun, while c'est galère uses the informal invariable adjective.