Crossword : Grammatical figures of style in French

Put your mastery of French rhetoric to the ultimate test! This crossword challenges you to identify and name the most sophisticated grammatical figures of style — from zeugma to hypallage, anacoluthe to polyptote. Designed for C2-level learners, it explores the subtle stylistic devices that define elegant, literary French expression. How many can you uncover?

Grid

Fill in the grid: pick a square, read the clue and type your answer.

Clues

Across

2. play on words with similar sounds
6. sentence left deliberately unfinished
9. To enter
13. To find
14. Often
15. To be able

Down

1. group of words forming a sentence
3. direct address to person or thing
4. repetition of words at sentence end
5. excessive use of conjunctions
7. roundabout expression replacing a word
8. part used to represent the whole
10. Sometimes
11. Each, every
12. To call

Answers

Show the answers

Across

2. play on words with similar sounds → paronomase
6. sentence left deliberately unfinished → aposiopese
9. To enter → entrer
13. To find → trouver
14. Often → souvent
15. To be able → pouvoir

Down

1. group of words forming a sentence → phrase
3. direct address to person or thing → apostrophe
4. repetition of words at sentence end → epiphore
5. excessive use of conjunctions → polysyndete
7. roundabout expression replacing a word → periphrases
8. part used to represent the whole → synecdoque
10. Sometimes → parfois
11. Each, every → chaque
12. To call → appeler

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