la peine
difficulty · trouble · sentence · pain · sorrow
C'est un sentiment de tristesse ou de douleur que l'on ressent quand quelque chose ne va pas bien.
Definition & meaning
The French word peine is a feminine noun that generally refers to a state of suffering, difficulty, or punishment. Depending on the context, it carries several distinct meanings:
- Sorrow or grief: Refers to emotional pain, sadness, or heartache. It is often used to describe the feeling caused by loss or disappointment.
- Effort or trouble: Refers to the exertion required to perform a task. It implies that something is difficult or requires significant energy.
- Punishment or penalty: Refers to a legal or formal sanction imposed for an offense, such as a prison sentence or a fine.
Grammar & Word origin
- Grammar: It is a feminine noun (une peine).
- Word origin: It derives from the Latin word poena, which originally meant "satisfaction," "atonement," or "punishment." Over time, the meaning evolved in French to include the psychological aspect of suffering and the physical aspect of effort.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- For sorrow: chagrin , tristesse , douleur .
- For effort: effort , difficulté .
- For punishment: punition , condamnation , sanction .
Antonyms:
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Examples
Elle fait tout cela sans peine.noun
She does all that without difficulty.
Avec beaucoup de peine, il continue son travail.noun
With much difficulty, he continues his work.
Ce projet ne vaut pas la peine.noun
This project is not worth the trouble.
Les élèves ont réussi l’examen sans peine.noun
The students passed the exam without trouble.
Ils ont eu de la peine à comprendre la question.noun
They had trouble understanding the question.
La peine du prisonnier sera bientôt terminée.noun
The prisoner's sentence will soon be over.
Après tant d’efforts, sa peine a finalement disparu.Word type unavailable
After so much effort, his pain has finally disappeared.
La peine du pardon est parfois difficile à supporter.Word type unavailable
The pain of forgiveness is sometimes hard to bear.
Il cache sa peine derrière un sourire.Word type unavailable
He hides his sorrow behind a smile.
Sa peine était visible quand elle a parlé du passé.Word type unavailable
Her sorrow was visible when she spoke about the past.
Elle a écrit un poème sur la peine qu’elle ressent encore.Word type unavailable
She wrote a poem about the pain she still feels.
La peine du secret était trop lourde à garder.Word type unavailable
The pain of the secret was too heavy to keep.
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