bete noire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “bete noire” mean?
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears; a detested, dreaded, or avoided nuisance.
A persistent source of frustration, anxiety, or annoyance; an object of special aversion or dread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally understood and used in formal writing in both varieties. Possibly slightly more prevalent in British English due to stronger French influence.
Connotations
Carries connotations of sophistication and a learned vocabulary. Can sound pretentious if used inappropriately in informal contexts.
Frequency
Low-frequency term in spoken language for both varieties, more common in formal writing, journalism, and literary criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “bete noire” in a Sentence
[Possessive] + bête noire (e.g., The tabloid press is her bête noire.)bête noire + [Preposition 'of'] (e.g., He became the bête noire of the establishment.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bete noire” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjective form]
American English
- [No standard adjective form]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a disruptive competitor, a troublesome regulation, or a persistent market challenge. (e.g., 'Volatile currency markets are the CFO's bête noire.')
Academic
Used in literary criticism or history to describe a figure or concept an author or movement particularly opposed. (e.g., 'Sentimentality was the bête noire of the Modernist poets.')
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously for a minor pet peeve. (e.g., 'Loud chewing is my bête noire.')
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical fields like engineering or medicine.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bete noire”
- Misspelling as 'bete noir' (dropping the 'e' on 'noire').
- Mispronouncing as '/biːt/' instead of '/bɛt/'.
- Using it to mean a general problem rather than a *particular, named* object of dislike.
- Using without a possessive or definite article ('He is bête noire' is wrong; 'He is my bête noire' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be any specific thing, concept, or activity that is particularly disliked or dreaded, such as a type of music, a household chore, or a political ideology.
Yes, in careful writing it retains the French acute accent on the first 'e' of 'bête' and the circumflex is often dropped from 'noire'. It is sometimes anglicised as 'bete noire' without accents.
Yes, the plural is 'bêtes noires', following French pluralisation rules for both words.
'Nemesis' implies a rival or opponent that brings about one's downfall, often through a contest of equals. 'Bête noire' is more about a deep-seated, often irrational dislike or fear; it's the thing you dread or despise, not necessarily a direct competitor.
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Bete noire is usually formal, literary in register.
Bete noire: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɛt ˈnwɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɛt ˈnwɑr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms, term itself is idiomatic]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Bet NO' to it. You BET you'd say NO to your bête noire because you dislike it so much.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE OBJECT OF DISLIKE IS A DARK BEAST / A MONSTER.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'bête noire' correctly?