Meaning of "harpagon" in English

The word "harpagon" is a noun used to describe a person who is excessively stingy or miserly. It refers to someone who is unwilling to spend money, even when necessary, and seeks to accumulate wealth for its own sake. The term is derived from the name of a character in Molière's 17th century play "L'Avare," which translates to "The Miser." In English literature and conversation, it is often used metaphorically to characterize individuals having a parsimonious nature.

Meaning of "harpagon" in French

In French, "harpagon" retains the essence of its meaning from its literary origin. It refers to a miserly person who hoards wealth and avoids parting with money at all costs. The term comes from Molière's renowned play "L'Avare," where the main character, Harpagon, epitomizes an excessive preoccupation with money. In contemporary usage, calling someone a "harpagon" suggests they are ungenerous, thrifty to a fault, and prioritize material gain over interpersonal relationships.

Pronunciation of "harpagon" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈhɑːrpəˌɡɒn/

The pronunciation of "harpagon" in English does not exhibit significant regional variations. It is pronounced similarly across English-speaking regions, maintaining its unique pronunciation influenced by its French roots.

Pronunciation of "harpagon" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /aʁ.pa.ɡɔ̃/

In French, "harpagon" is pronounced with a clear French accent, capturing the nasal quality at the end of the word. French speakers might slightly vary the speed or intonation based on their regional dialects, but the pronunciation remains fairly consistent.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. Harpagon's greed knows no bounds. - La cupidité de Harpagon ne connaît pas de limites.
  2. Many consider Ebenezer Scrooge a modern-day Harpagon. - Beaucoup considèrent Ebenezer Scrooge comme un Harpagon moderne.
  3. His friends jokingly called him Harpagon. - Ses amis l'appelaient en plaisantant Harpagon.
  4. The story of Harpagon is a timeless critique of avarice. - L'histoire de Harpagon est une critique intemporelle de l'avarice.
  5. She refused to lend money, earning her the title of Harpagon. - Elle a refusé de prêter de l'argent, ce qui lui a valu le titre de Harpagon.
  6. Harpagon values wealth over relationships. - Harpagon accorde plus de valeur à la richesse qu'aux relations.
  7. The character of Harpagon remains relevant in today's society. - Le personnage de Harpagon reste pertinent dans la société d'aujourd'hui.
  8. Children were warned not to become like Harpagon. - On avertissait les enfants de ne pas devenir comme Harpagon.
  9. Harpagon is synonymous with greed in literature. - Harpagon est synonyme de cupidité dans la littérature.
  10. His behavior reminded her of Harpagon's miserliness. - Son comportement lui rappelait l'avarice d'Harpagon.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "harpagon" in English

Synonyms: miser, cheapskate, penny-pincher, tightwad, skinflint.

Antonyms: spendthrift, altruist, philanthropist, benefactor, openhanded.

Similar Words: hoarder, Scrooge, penny-saver, thrifty, money-grubber.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "harpagon" in French

Synonyms: avare, radin, pingre, grippe-sou, économe.

Antonyms: dépensier, généreux, philanthrope, bienfaiteur, prodigue.

Similar Words: économiseur, accumulateur, parcimonieux, égoïste, rapiat.

Disclaimer: These examples may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Translate.com, or its company Translate LLC. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to our team.

Get document translations that have been custom-crafted to fit the needs of your unique industry and culture - in over 110 language pairs!
Order document translation

Translate harpagon into other languages