manque

unfulfilled or frustrated in the realization of one’s ambitions or capabilities


This is a French word (manqué), used postpositively. In other words, it follows the noun that it modifies. For example, “writer manqu&eacute. The word appears in a New York Times review of the new “Rocky” movie: “Don’t ask why his whiny son, Robert, a charmless yuppie manqué with a chip on his shoulder, does not bear the slightest resemblance to his father.”

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3 Responses to manque

  1. Hmm.. painter’s manque’ – yes, I can relate.
    I was just having a converstaion with some lovely people and we were tussling about the pronunciation of the word sudoku. Does the english rules guy arbitrate that kind of thing?

  2. Karl says:

    Hi Aunt Ginny,
    No, I don’t arbitrate anything. I’m curious, though, about what the different pronunciations were. I (try to) pronounce it like this: soo-DOH-koo (where DOH rhymes with ho ho ho!)

  3. Disappointed Steve says:

    This “site manque” has failed to provide guidance on how to not embarass myself at a cocktail party when I need to use the word, but stutter due to my uncertainty in its pronunciation. man-KAY? maink? MAIN-kee? Without such knowledge it will never reach popular culture vernacular. A much needed word manque.

    On an unrelated note, my first exposure to this word was at the written hand of an australian friend describing californian wines. I faked it in the live conversation (context made it clear that it was not a compliment). But after I looked it up, I was devastated that such a international insult was delivered so skillfully and I didn’t enjoy it in the moment. :)

    Anyway, how does one pronouce it?

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