Inouï is a French adjective meaning “extraordinary,” “unheard of,” or “unbelievable.” It expresses strong amazement, usually positive but sometimes negative. It applies to events, experiences, abilities, behaviours, and situations that exceed normal expectations. The word is common in both spoken and written French, including journalism, literature, and everyday conversation.

Meaning

Literally, inouï means “unheard of,” formed from in- (not) and ouïr (an old verb meaning “to hear”). Its core idea is something so striking that it has never been heard of before. Modern usage is broader and often simply means “exceptional” or “astonishing.”

Register

Inouï is standard French. It is somewhat elevated in tone but not formal. It sounds stronger and more expressive than words like incroyable or extraordinaire.

Typical contexts

The word often describes:

• exceptional talent or performance
• shocking behaviour
• outstanding beauty or intensity
• very rare or unprecedented events
• extreme luck or misfortune

Usage notes

Inouï agrees in gender and number:

• masculine singular: inouï
• feminine singular: inouïe
• masculine plural: inouïs
• feminine plural: inouïes

Usage examples

Positive admiration

• Ce violoniste a un talent inouï.
  This violinist has unbelievable talent.
• La vue depuis le sommet est inouïe.
  The view from the top is extraordinary.
• Ils ont fait preuve d’une créativité inouïe.
  They showed exceptional creativity.

Intensity of experience

• J’ai ressenti une joie inouïe.
  I felt an incredible joy.
• Il y avait une chaleur inouïe cet été.
  There was unbelievable heat this summer.
• Elle a une énergie inouïe.
  She has astonishing energy.

Negative amazement or shock

• C’est d’une impolitesse inouïe.
  That is unbelievably rude.
• Il a eu une audace inouïe de dire ça.
  He had unbelievable nerve to say that.
• Le prix est d’une exagération inouïe.
  The price is outrageously high.

Unprecedented or rare events

• Une tempête d’une violence inouïe a frappé la région.
  A storm of unbelievable force hit the region.
• Une coïncidence inouïe les a réunis.
  An incredible coincidence brought them together.
• C’est une histoire inouïe mais vraie.
  It is an unbelievable but true story.

Synonyms and related expressions

Close synonyms

• Incroyable
• Extraordinaire
• Étonnant
• Phénoménal
• Insensé
• Ahurissant
• Sidérant
• Impressionnant

Expressions conveying similar meaning

• Du jamais-vu
• C’est fou
• C’est incroyable
• Hors du commun
• Sans précédent

Summary

Inouï means “extraordinary,” “unbelievable,” or “unheard of.” It appears in both positive and negative contexts and often describes intensity, rarity, or outstanding qualities. It is standard French with a slightly elevated tone and is widely used to emphasise amazement or exceptionality.