untoward
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C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

inattendu
Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
La réunion s'est terminée sans incidents inattendus.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

délier
Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
La nouvelle loi libérera les petites entreprises des régulations excessives.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/

Unexpected

inattendu; surprenant
Meaning
not expected or anticipated; surprising
Example
The unexpected news left everyone speechless.
Les nouvelles inattendues ont laissé tout le monde sans voix.
C2 verb /juˈzɜrp/

usurp

usurper
Meaning
to take someone's position of power illegally or by force
Example
The general tried to usurp the king's throne.
Le général a tenté de usurper le trône du roi.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.moʊst/

Utmost

extrême; maximum
Meaning
greatest; most extreme; maximum possible
Example
She showed utmost care while handling the fragile items.
Elle a montré un soin extrême en manipulant les objets fragiles.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrvɪsəbəl/

Unserviceable

hors service; défectueux
Meaning
not in working order; unable to be used; defective
Example
The old computer became unserviceable after the system crash.
L'ancien ordinateur est devenu hors service après la panne du système.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnˈnoʊ.tɪst/

Unnoticed

inaperçu; ignoré
Meaning
not seen or observed; ignored
Example
His hard work went unnoticed by his manager.
Son travail acharné est passé inaperçu par son manager.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsuːtəbl/

Unsuitable

inapproprié; inapte
Meaning
not fitting or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation
Example
This formal dress is unsuitable for a casual beach party.
Cette robe formelle est inappropriée pour une fête de plage décontractée.
C1 noun /ˌʌnriˈælɪti/

unreality

irréalité
Meaning
the state or quality of being unreal; lack of reality or truth
Example
The dreamlike setting gave the story a sense of unreality.
Le décor onirique a donné à l’histoire un sentiment d’irréalité.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərdɒɡ/

underdog

outsider
Meaning
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning; a weaker party in a contest
Example
The underdog team surprised everyone by winning the championship.
L'équipe outsider a surpris tout le monde en gagnant le championnat.
B2 noun ˌjuːtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən

utilization

utilisation
Meaning
The action of making practical and effective use of something.
Example
Increased plastic utilization calls for better waste management.
L'augmentation de l'utilisation du plastique nécessite une meilleure gestion des déchets.
A2 adjective /ˈʌɡ.li/

Ugly

laid; repoussant; horrible
Meaning
unpleasant or repulsive in appearance; morally reprehensible
Example
The old building looked ugly after years of neglect.
Le vieux bâtiment avait l'air laid après des années de négligence.
B1 adjective /juːˈniːk/

Unique

unique; singulier; rare
Meaning
being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else
Example
Every snowflake is unique in its pattern.
Chaque flocon de neige est unique dans son motif.
C1 verb /ʌnˈkɔrk/

uncork

déboucher
Meaning
To remove the cork from a bottle; to open a bottle, especially of wine
Example
He uncorked the wine and poured a glass for everyone.
Il a débouché le vin et a servi un verre à tout le monde.
C2 adverb /ʌnˈɜːrɪŋli/

unerringly

sans erreur
Meaning
Without making any mistakes; always accurate
Example
The archer aimed unerringly at the target.
L'archer a visé sans erreur la cible.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈskɪld/

Unskilled

non qualifié; travailleur sans compétences
Meaning
lacking technical training or ability; not requiring special skills
Example
Many unskilled workers are looking for training opportunities.
De nombreux travailleurs non qualifiés recherchent des opportunités de formation.
B2 verb /ʌnˈkʌvə(r)/

uncover

découvrir
Meaning
to reveal something that was hidden or secret
Example
The investigation uncovered new evidence.
L'enquête a découvert de nouvelles preuves.
A2 verb /ʌpˈdeɪt/

update

mettre à jour
Meaning
to make something more modern or current; to provide new information
Example
Please update your software regularly.
Veuillez mettre à jour votre logiciel régulièrement.
C1 adjective ʌnˈmætʃt

unmatched

incomparable
Meaning
Not equaled or rivaled by any other; without equal.
Example
The freedom fighters showed unmatched bravery.
Les combattants de la liberté ont montré un courage incomparable.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

harmonieux
Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
Les voix harmonieuses ont créé un effet puissant.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsiːmli/

unseemly

indécent
Meaning
Not proper or appropriate in behavior or appearance; unbecoming.
Example
His unseemly remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner table.
Ses remarques indécentes ont embarrassé tout le monde à la table du dîner.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈplɛz.ənt/

Unpleasant

désagréable
Meaning
not giving or causing pleasure; disagreeable
Example
The medicine had an unpleasant taste.
Le médicament avait un goût désagréable.
B2 adjective /ʌnəˈfreɪd/

unafraid

intrépide
Meaning
Not feeling fear; brave or courageous
Example
She walked into the dark room, unafraid of what might be inside.
Elle est entrée dans la pièce sombre, intrépide de ce qui pourrait être à l'intérieur.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌɡɑːrmənt/

undergarment

vêtements de dessous
Meaning
a piece of clothing worn under outer clothes, usually next to the skin
Example
He bought new undergarments for the wedding.
Il a acheté de nouveaux vêtements de dessous pour le mariage.
C1 adjective ʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbəl

uninhabitable

inhabitable
Meaning
Not suitable or safe for people to live in.
Example
Rapid urbanization can make cities uninhabitable.
L'urbanisation rapide peut rendre les villes inhabitables.
B1 adjective /ˈɜːrbən/

urban

urbain
Meaning
related to, characteristic of, or situated in a city or town
Example
Urban areas often have higher population density than rural areas.
Les zones urbaines ont souvent une densité de population plus élevée que les zones rurales.
A2 noun /ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/

understanding

compréhension
Meaning
the ability to grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something
Example
Her understanding of the issue was impressive.
Sa compréhension du problème était impressionnante.
B2 adjective /juːˈnæn.ɪ.məs/

Unanimous

unanime
Meaning
fully in agreement; shared by all
Example
The committee reached a unanimous decision.
Le comité a pris une décision unanime.
B1 adjective /ˈɜːrdʒənt/

Urgent

urgent
Meaning
requiring immediate action or attention; pressing
Example
The patient needs urgent medical attention.
Le patient a besoin d'une attention médicale urgente.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkɛmpt/

unkempt

désordonné
Meaning
Having an untidy or disheveled appearance.
Example
He looked unkempt after sleeping outdoors all night.
Il avait l'air désordonné après avoir dormi dehors toute la nuit.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

usufruit
Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
Le locataire avait l'usufruit de la terre mais pas sa propriété.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈlɛtəd/

unlettered

analphabète
Meaning
lacking education or the ability to read and write; illiterate
Example
The unlettered villagers relied on oral traditions to preserve their history.
Les villageois analphabètes dépendaient des traditions orales pour préserver leur histoire.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

excessivement dévoué à sa femme
Meaning
excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife
Example
He was so uxorious that he agreed with everything his wife said.
Il était tellement uxorien qu'il était d'accord avec tout ce que sa femme disait.
B2 adjective /ˈjuː.nɪ.faɪd/

unified

unifié
Meaning
Made into a whole or joined together.
Example
A unified approach fosters better outcomes.
Une approche unifiée favorise de meilleurs résultats.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/

Unfavourable

défavorable; adverse
Meaning
not helpful or advantageous; adverse
Example
The weather conditions were unfavourable for our outdoor event.
Les conditions météorologiques étaient défavorables pour notre événement extérieur.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈælɔɪd/

unalloyed

pur
Meaning
Pure, complete, and not mixed with anything else.
Example
She felt unalloyed joy at the news of her success.
Elle a ressenti une joie pure en entendant la nouvelle de son succès.
B2 adverb /ˈʌt.ə.li/

Utterly

totalement; absolument; complètement
Meaning
completely; absolutely; totally
Example
The movie was utterly boring and I fell asleep.
Le film était complètement ennuyeux et je me suis endormi.
C2 noun /ˈjuːnɪvəˌlɛns/

univalence

univalence
Meaning
The state of having a single valence or combining power, especially in chemistry.
Example
Hydrogen is characterized by its univalence in chemical reactions.
L'hydrogène est caractérisé par son univalence dans les réactions chimiques.
A1 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsɪti/

university

université
Meaning
an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees
Example
She is studying law at the university.
Elle étudie le droit à l'université.
B2 adjective /ˈʌpˌhɪl/

Uphill

difficile; nécessitant un grand effort; en pente ascendante
Meaning
difficult; requiring great effort; sloping upward
Example
Learning a new language can be an uphill battle.
Apprendre une nouvelle langue peut être une bataille difficile.
B2 noun ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən

urbanization

urbanisation
Meaning
The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
Example
Urbanization leads to more developed infrastructure.
L'urbanisation mène à une infrastructure plus développée.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/

understudy

sous-distributeur
Meaning
An actor who learns another's role to act as a replacement if needed.
Example
The understudy performed when the lead actor fell ill.
Le sous-distributeur a joué lorsque l'acteur principal est tombé malade.
B1 adverb /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/

unusually

de manière inhabituelle
Meaning
in a way that is not typical or expected; to an uncommon degree
Example
It was unusually cold for this time of year.
Il faisait inhabituellement froid pour cette période de l'année.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

complet
Meaning
absolute; not lessened or moderated
Example
The meeting was an unmitigated disaster.
La réunion était un désastre complet.
C1 adjective ʌnˈwɔːr.rən.tɪd

unwarranted

injustifié
Meaning
Not justified or necessary; without good reason.
Example
His anger toward the staff was completely unwarranted.
Sa colère envers le personnel était complètement injustifiée.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkwaɪ.ət/

Unquiet

agité; anxieux; perturbé
Meaning
restless; unable to remain still or quiet; anxious or troubled
Example
She spent an unquiet night worrying about the exam results.
Elle a passé une nuit agitée à s'inquiéter des résultats de l'examen.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbreɪkəbəl/

Unbreakable

qui ne peut être brisé ou endommagé ; très fort et durable
Meaning
not able to be broken or damaged; very strong and durable
Example
Their friendship formed an unbreakable bond.
Leur amitié a formé un lien incassable.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.ɚ/

Utter

complet; absolu; total
Meaning
complete; absolute; total
Example
The movie was an utter disaster at the box office.
Le film était un désastre total au box-office.
C2 noun /ʌnˈkloʊðɪŋ/

unclothing

déshabillage
Meaning
the act or process of removing clothing
Example
The child quickly ran inside for unclothing after playing in the mud.
L'enfant est rapidement allé à l'intérieur pour le déshabillage après avoir joué dans la boue.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈfrɛndli/

unfriendly

peu aimable
Meaning
not kind or welcoming; hostile or cold in behavior or attitude
Example
The shop owner seemed unfriendly to new customers.
Le propriétaire du magasin semblait peu aimable envers les nouveaux clients.
B2 noun /ʌnˈkɒnʃəsnəs/

unconsciousness

inconscience
Meaning
the state of being unaware of and unable to respond to one's surroundings
Example
After the accident, he was in a state of unconsciousness for several hours.
Après l'accident, il était dans un état d'inconscience pendant plusieurs heures.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɡreɪt.fəl/

Ungrateful

ingrat
Meaning
not feeling or showing thanks for something done or given; not appreciating kindness
Example
She felt he was ungrateful for all the help she had given him.
Elle sentit qu'il était ingrat pour toute l'aide qu'elle lui avait donnée.
B1 adjective /ˈʌpər/

upper

supérieur
Meaning
higher in position or rank
Example
The upper floor of the building is under renovation.
Le étage supérieur du bâtiment est en rénovation.
B1 noun /juːˈten.səlz/

Utensils

ustensiles
Meaning
tools or implements used for cooking, eating, or serving food
Example
Please wash all the cooking utensils after preparing dinner.
Veuillez laver tous les ustensiles de cuisine après avoir préparé le dîner.
A2 adjective /ˈjuːʒəl/

usual

habituel
Meaning
habitually or typically occurring or done
Example
It’s our usual meeting spot.
C'est notre lieu de réunion habituel.
B2 adjective /ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/

Ultimate

final; suprême; ultime
Meaning
being the best or most extreme example of its kind; final; last
Example
This is the ultimate test of your skills.
C'est le test ultime de vos compétences.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.rɪˈdʒɛn.ər.ət/

unregenerate

intransigeant
Meaning
Not reformed or showing no signs of change; stubbornly refusing to reform or repent.
Example
He remained an unregenerate opponent of progress.
Il est resté un opposant intransigeant du progrès.
C1 adverb /ˌʌnkənˈvɛnʃənəli/

unconventionally

de manière non conventionnelle
Meaning
in a way that is not based on or conforming to accepted standards or norms
Example
She dresses unconventionally, mixing bold colors and patterns that surprise everyone.
Elle s'habille de manière non conventionnelle, mélangeant des couleurs et des motifs audacieux qui surprennent tout le monde.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

Untimely

prématuré
Meaning
happening at an inappropriate or inconvenient time; premature
Example
His untimely death at the age of thirty shocked everyone.
Sa mort prématurée à l'âge de trente ans a choqué tout le monde.
B2 adjective /ʌnprəˈfɛʃ.ən.əl/

Unprofessional

non professionnel
Meaning
not conforming to the standards expected in a particular profession
Example
His unprofessional behavior led to his dismissal from the company.
Son comportement non professionnel a conduit à son licenciement de l'entreprise.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪˈmædʒənəbəl/

Unimaginable

inimaginable
Meaning
impossible to conceive; beyond imagination
Example
The scale of destruction was unimaginable until we saw it firsthand.
L'échelle de la destruction était inimaginable jusqu'à ce que nous le voyions de nos propres yeux.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəl/

unsocial

asocial
Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction; contrary to social norms
Example
He prefers unsocial hours so he can work alone without interruptions.
Il préfère des horaires asociaux pour travailler seul.
B2 adjective /ˈʌpˌraɪt/

Upright

honnête et moralement correct; vertical ou dressé en position
Meaning
honest and morally correct; vertical or erect in position
Example
She is known for being an upright and honest businesswoman.
Elle est connue pour être une femme d'affaires honnête et droite.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈspiːkəbl/

unspeakable

indicible
Meaning
too bad or shocking to be expressed in words
Example
The survivors endured unspeakable horrors during the war.
Les survivants ont enduré des horreurs indicibles pendant la guerre.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsteɪtɪd/

unstated

non exprimé
Meaning
not expressed directly in words; implied or left unsaid
Example
The contract included several unstated expectations.
Le contrat incluait plusieurs attentes non exprimées.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnˈkɔːrdɪneɪtɪd/

uncoordinated

désordonné; non coordonné
Meaning
lacking coordination, not well-organized or clumsy in movement
Example
His movements were uncoordinated, making him prone to accidents.
Ses mouvements étaient désordonnés, ce qui le rendait sujet aux accidents.
B2 noun /ˈʌndərkləʊðz/

underclothes

sous-vêtements
Meaning
Clothing worn beneath outer clothes, such as underwear or lingerie
Example
He folded his underclothes neatly before packing them.
Il a plié ses sous-vêtements soigneusement avant de les ranger.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrtən/

Uncertain

incertain
Meaning
not able to be relied on; not known or definite; not having reliable knowledge
Example
I am uncertain about my future career plans.
Je suis incertain de mes plans de carrière futurs.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪnˈfɔːrmd/

uninformed

mal informé
Meaning
lacking knowledge or awareness about a particular subject; not educated or informed
Example
The decision was made by an uninformed committee.
La décision a été prise par un comité mal informé.
C1 adjective /ˈʌndərhænd/

underhand

sournois
Meaning
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
Example
The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election.
Le politicien a été accusé d'utiliser des tactiques sournoises pour gagner les élections.
B1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈstændəbl/

understandable

compréhensible
Meaning
Able to be understood; reasonable or justifiable.
Example
Her reaction was understandable given the situation.
Sa réaction était compréhensible étant donné la situation.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/

unobtrusive

discret
Meaning
not attracting attention; blending in without causing notice
Example
The security cameras are designed to be unobtrusive.
Les caméras de sécurité sont conçues pour être discrètes.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

inexpérimenté
Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
L'écrivain inexpérimenté a eu du mal à terminer son premier roman.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnˈpeɪd/

Unpaid

non payé; sans salaire
Meaning
not paid for; without payment or salary
Example
She worked as an unpaid intern for six months.
Elle a travaillé comme stagiaire non payée pendant six mois.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

urbanité
Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
Son urbanité la rendait populaire parmi les diplomates et les dirigeants.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪv(ə)rəbəl/

unfavorable

défavorable
Meaning
not beneficial or advantageous; showing disapproval or opposition
Example
The proposal received an unfavorable response from the committee.
La proposition a reçu une réponse défavorable du comité.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈsʌlid/

unsullied

immaculé
Meaning
not spoiled or made impure; perfectly clean or pure
Example
His reputation remained unsullied despite the accusations.
Sa réputation est restée immaculée malgré les accusations.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈjuː.ʒu.əl/

Unusual

inhabituel; étrange;
Meaning
not typical; strange; different from what is normal
Example
She wore an unusual dress to the party.
Elle portait une robe inhabituelle à la fête.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈdɪvaɪdɪd/

Undivided

Indivisé; complet; pas séparé ou divisé
Meaning
whole; complete; not separated or split
Example
The team showed undivided attention to the coach's instructions.
L'équipe a montré une attention indivisée aux instructions de l'entraîneur.
C2 adjective /ˌʌltrəˈmɒnteɪn/

ultramontane

partisan du Pape
Meaning
beyond the mountains, especially referring to support for the Pope over local church authority
Example
The debate highlighted the ultramontane position in church politics.
Le débat a mis en lumière la position ultramontaine dans la politique ecclésiastique.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

peu attrayant
Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
Malgré son apparence peu attrayante, il était très gentil et intelligent.
B1 noun /ˈjuːnɪvɜːrs/

Universe

univers
Meaning
all existing matter and space; the cosmos
Example
Scientists study the universe to understand its mysteries.
Les scientifiques étudient l'univers pour comprendre ses mystères.
C1 noun /ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/

Ultimatum

ultimatum
Meaning
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation
Example
The boss gave him an ultimatum: improve or be fired.
Le patron lui a donné un ultimatum : améliorez-vous ou vous serez renvoyé.
C1 adjective + noun ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd ˈnɒlɪdʒ

unprecedented knowledge

connaissance sans précédent
Meaning
Information or understanding that has never been obtained or achieved before.
Example
Artemis will provide unprecedented knowledge about the solar system.
Artemis fournira des connaissances sans précédent sur le système solaire.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnkɒnstɪˈtuːʃənəl/

Unconstitutional

inconstitutionnel
Meaning
not in accordance with a political constitution; violating constitutional principles
Example
The court declared the new law unconstitutional.
Le tribunal a déclaré que la nouvelle loi était inconstitutionnelle.
C1 verb /ˌʌndərˈvæljuː/

undervalue

sous-estimer
Meaning
To assign too low a value or importance to something or someone.
Example
She felt that her boss consistently undervalued her contributions.
Elle sentait que son patron ne valorisait pas constamment ses contributions.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈweər/

Unaware

inconscient; ignorant; sans savoir
Meaning
not knowing or realizing; having no knowledge of something
Example
She was completely unaware of the danger.
Elle était complètement inconsciente du danger.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/

unceremonious

sans cérémonie/rude
Meaning
Done without formality or courtesy; abrupt or rude.
Example
He made an unceremonious exit from the party.
Il a fait une sortie sans cérémonie de la fête.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈendɪŋ/

Unending

sans fin
Meaning
continuing forever; without end
Example
The unending rain made the day feel gloomy.
La pluie sans fin a rendu la journée morose.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈwɜːrði/

Unworthy

indigne; sans valeur
Meaning
not deserving respect or attention; lacking worth or merit
Example
He felt unworthy of such praise and recognition.
Il se sentait indigne de tant d'éloges et de reconnaissance.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈvaɪəbl/

unviable

invivable
Meaning
Not capable of working successfully; not feasible or practical.
Example
The project was deemed unviable due to high costs.
Le projet a été jugé invivable en raison des coûts élevés.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈiːvən/

Uneven

irrégulier; rugueux
Meaning
not level or smooth; not regular or consistent
Example
The road was uneven and full of potholes.
La route était irrégulière et pleine de nids-de-poule.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.tɜːn/

upturn

amélioration
Meaning
An improvement or upward trend in a situation, especially in business or economy.
Example
The company experienced an upturn in sales last quarter.
L'entreprise a connu une amélioration des ventes le dernier trimestre.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd/

unlimited

illimité
Meaning
without any limits or restrictions
Example
The internet plan offers unlimited data for the whole month.
Le plan Internet offre des données illimitées pendant tout le mois.
B1 adjective ʌnˈplænd

unplanned

non planifié
Meaning
Not planned or arranged in advance; happening spontaneously without preparation.
Example
Unplanned urbanization contributes to environmental issues.
L'urbanisation non planifiée contribue à des problèmes environnementaux.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

unbecoming

inapproprié
Meaning
Not proper or appropriate for a person; unsuitable.
Example
His rude behavior was unbecoming of a leader.
Son comportement grossier était inapproprié pour un leader.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtʃælɪndʒd/

Unchallenged

incontesté; accepté sans opposition; sans rival
Meaning
not disputed or questioned; accepted without opposition; having no rival
Example
He remained the unchallenged champion for five years.
Il est resté le champion incontesté pendant cinq ans.
A2 noun /ʌmˈbrɛlə/

umbrella

parapluie
Meaning
A device used for protection against rain or sun, typically consisting of a collapsible canopy mounted on a central rod.
Example
She opened her umbrella as it started to rain.
Elle a ouvert son parapluie quand il a commencé à pleuvoir.
C2 adjective /juːˈʒʊəriəs/

usurious

usuraire
Meaning
Charging excessively high interest rates on loans.
Example
The bank was accused of offering loans at usurious rates.
La banque a été accusée d'offrir des prêts à des taux usuraires.
A2 noun /ˌʌpˈsteəz/

Upstairs

étage supérieur
Meaning
on or to an upper floor of a building; the upper floor or floors
Example
She went upstairs to her bedroom to rest.
Elle est montée à l'étage pour se reposer.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.əkˈsep.tə.bəl/

Unacceptable

inacceptable
Meaning
not satisfactory or allowable; not acceptable
Example
The quality of work was completely unacceptable.
La qualité du travail était complètement inacceptable.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/

Unbelievable

incroyable
Meaning
impossible to believe; extremely surprising or remarkable
Example
The magician's performance was absolutely unbelievable.
La performance du magicien était absolument incroyable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

ingérable; hors de contrôle
Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
La grande classe est devenue ingérable sans une supervision adéquate.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwəʊntɪd/

unwonted

inhabituel
Meaning
Unusual, uncommon, or out of the ordinary.
Example
She spoke with an unwonted gentleness that surprised everyone.
Elle parla avec une douceur inhabituelle qui surprit tout le monde.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrθˈkʌmɪŋ/

unforthcoming

réticent
Meaning
Not willing to talk or provide information; uncooperative.
Example
The witness was unforthcoming about what he had seen.
Le témoin était réticent à propos de ce qu'il avait vu.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwiːldi/

unwieldy

difficile à manipuler
Meaning
Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight.
Example
The box was too unwieldy to carry up the stairs.
La boîte était trop difficile à manipuler pour être montée dans les escaliers.
C2 noun /ˈʌn.dɚˌstɔː.ri/

understory

végétation inférieure
Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
La végétation inférieure d'une forêt tropicale est le foyer de petits mammifères et d'insectes.
B1 noun /ˈjuːnjən/

Union

union
Meaning
the action of joining or combining; a political unit formed from separate states
Example
The union of the two companies created a powerful corporation.
L'union des deux entreprises a créé une puissante société.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈfeər/

Unfair

injuste; déloyal;
Meaning
not right or just; treating people in a way that favors some over others
Example
It's unfair to blame her for something she didn't do.
C'est injuste de la blâmer pour quelque chose qu'elle n'a pas fait.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɜːd/

Unheard

inouï; inconnu
Meaning
not heard or listened to; not given a hearing; unknown or unfamiliar
Example
His complaints went unheard by the management.
Ses plaintes sont passées inaperçues par la direction.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈfɛərli/

unfairly

injustement
Meaning
In a manner that is not just, reasonable, or impartial
Example
He was treated unfairly by the committee.
Il a été traité injustement par le comité.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/

unpredictable

imprévisible
Meaning
not able to be predicted; changing suddenly and unexpectedly
Example
The weather in this region is highly unpredictable.
Le climat de cette région est très imprévisible.
C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

motif caché
Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
Il l'a invitée avec un motif caché.
C1 noun /juːnəˈnɪməti/

Unanimity

unanimité
Meaning
complete agreement among all members of a group
Example
The committee reached unanimity on the new policy.
Le comité a atteint l'unanimité sur la nouvelle politique.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈsɜːrtənli/

uncertainly

avec incertitude
Meaning
in a way that shows doubt or lack of certainty
Example
She glanced uncertainly at the complicated instructions.
Elle a regardé les instructions compliquées avec incertitude.
B2 noun /ˈɜː.dʒən.si/

Urgency

urgence
Meaning
the quality of requiring immediate action or attention; pressing importance
Example
The urgency of the situation required immediate medical attention.
L'urgence de la situation nécessitait une attention médicale immédiate.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈhæp.i/

Unhappy

mécontent; triste
Meaning
not happy; feeling sad or displeased; unfortunate or undesirable
Example
He was unhappy with the results of his exam.
Il était mécontent des résultats de son examen.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.kəʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/

uncooperative

non coopératif
Meaning
not willing to help or work with others; unhelpful
Example
The witness was uncooperative and refused to answer questions.
Le témoin était non coopératif et a refusé de répondre aux questions.
C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

urbain
Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
C'était un gentleman urbain qui a charmé tout le monde à la fête.
B1 adjective /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

United

unis; ensemble; d'accord
Meaning
joined together for a common purpose; in agreement
Example
The team was united in their goal to win.
L'équipe était unie dans son objectif de gagner.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkæni/

uncanny

étrange
Meaning
Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
Example
She has an uncanny ability to predict the future.
Elle a une étrange capacité à prédire l'avenir.