douleur

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pain, ache, grief, sorrow, emotional pain
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/du.lœʁ/
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Bodily pain and the deeper suffering caused by grief, loss, or another wound to the inner life.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • Sa douleur était visible après l'annonce.
    Her grief was visible after the announcement.
  • Cette ancienne douleur revient parfois sans prévenir.
    That old hurt sometimes returns without warning.
  • Elle ressent des douleurs au dos depuis plusieurs jours.
    She has had back pain for several days.
  • La famille a traversé cette douleur ensemble.
    The family went through that sorrow together.
  • Ces médicaments soulagent la douleur après l'opération.
    These medicines relieve pain after the operation.

Similar words

chagrin
affliction
endolorissement
dechirement
tristesse
brûlure
souffrance
algie
lancement
tiraillement

Meanings

Bodily pain

noun
health
neutral
An unpleasant physical feeling caused by injury, illness, pressure, or another disturbance in the body.

Usage

Use douleur for a bodily pain that can be sharp, dull, brief, lasting, local, or spread through an area.

Examples

  • J'ai une douleur vive dans l'épaule.
    I have a sharp pain in my shoulder.
  • La douleur a augmenté pendant la nuit.
    The pain grew worse during the night.
  • Le médecin lui a demande de décrire sa douleur.
    The doctor asked him to describe his pain.
  • Ces médicaments soulagent la douleur après l'opération.
    These medicines relieve pain after the operation.
  • Elle ressent des douleurs au dos depuis plusieurs jours.
    She has had back pain for several days.
  • Les premières douleurs ont annonce l'accouchement.
    The first labor pains signaled the birth.

Common mistakes

The feminine agreement is missed, and English word order is sometimes carried into French descriptions of pain.
IncorrectCorrect
Il a une douleur très fort. Il a une douleur très forte.
J'ai une douleur dans ma tete. J'ai une douleur à la tete.
Le médecin a soigne la douleur cassée. Le médecin a soigne la blessure douloureuse.

Similar words

mal
souffrance
algie
endolorissement
lancement
brûlure
tiraillement
élancement

Emotional suffering

noun
emotion
neutral
A deep feeling of grief, distress, or inner suffering caused by loss, hardship, or another moral wound.

Usage

Use douleur for serious emotional suffering, especially grief or a wound that affects a person's inner life.

Examples

  • Sa douleur était visible après l'annonce.
    Her grief was visible after the announcement.
  • La famille a traversé cette douleur ensemble.
    The family went through that sorrow together.
  • Il a caché sa douleur derrière un sourire.
    He hid his sadness behind a smile.
  • Le poème donne une voix à la douleur de l'exil.
    The poem gives voice to the pain of exile.
  • Nous partageons votre douleur dans cette épreuve.
    We share your sorrow in this ordeal.
  • Cette ancienne douleur revient parfois sans prévenir.
    That old hurt sometimes returns without warning.

Common mistakes

The emotional sense is weakened when every small annoyance is translated with douleur.
IncorrectCorrect
Ce retard est une grande douleur. Ce retard est très ennuyeux.
Je suis douleur après cette nouvelle. Je ressens une grande douleur après cette nouvelle.
Sa douleur de dent était morale. Sa douleur après le deuil était morale.

Similar words

peine
chagrin
affliction
souffrance
tristesse
tourment
desolation
dechirement

Usage

Use douleur for physical pain and for serious grief or moral suffering. For a minor annoyance, choose words such as tracas, ennui, or contrariete.

Common mistakes

Une douleur très fort has the wrong adjective agreement, and translating every English pain as douleur can sound unnatural for a simple nuisance.

Etymology

From Old French douleur, recorded in the eleventh century, from Latin dolor, meaning physical or moral pain, from dolere, to hurt or grieve.

FAQ

What does douleur mean in English?

Douleur usually means pain, and it can also mean grief, sorrow, or serious emotional suffering.

Is douleur masculine or feminine?

Douleur is feminine, so adjectives agree in the feminine form, as in une douleur forte.

Can douleur mean emotional pain?

Yes. Douleur can describe moral or emotional suffering, especially grief, loss, or deep distress.

Does douleur mean nuisance in French?

Not usually. For a small annoyance, French normally uses words such as tracas, ennui, contrariete, or embetement.

What is the plural douleurs used for?

Douleurs can mean pains in the body, and it is also used for labor pains during childbirth.

Where does douleur come from?

Douleur comes from Old French and ultimately from Latin dolor, meaning physical or moral pain.

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