verb

souffrir

suffer

Ressentir de la douleur ou de la peine, que ce soit dans le corps ou dans le cœur.

The French verb "souffrir" means "to suffer" or "to endure." It refers to experiencing pain, distress, hardship, or discomfort, whether physical, emotional, or psychological.

Key meanings:

To undergo pain or hardship ("Il souffre d'une maladie" — He suffers from a disease).
To endure difficult situations ("Elle souffre beaucoup après leur rupture" — She suffers a lot after their breakup).
Sometimes used figuratively, e.g., "Le pays souffre de la guerre" (The country suffers from the war).

Synonyms and differences:

Endurer: Means "to endure" or "to bear" something difficult or painful, often with an emphasis on perseverance over time. It suggests patience through suffering.
- Ex: "Il a enduré beaucoup de frustrations."
Subir: Means "to undergo" or "to be subjected to" something, often unpleasant—implying a passive experience.
- Ex: "Ils ont subi des pertes importantes."
Peiner: Means "to grieve," "to hurt," or "to struggle," more related to emotional pain or difficulty, and can sometimes be less intense than "souffrir."
- Ex: "Elle peine à accepter la nouvelle."

Summary:

"Souffrir" is broad, covers physical and emotional pain, and can be active or passive in nuance.
"Endurer" focuses on enduring hardship with resilience.
"Subir" highlights being subjected to something external.
"Peiner" centers on emotional pain or difficulty.

Use "souffrir" when you want to express experiencing pain or suffering, especially emphasizing the experience of hardship itself.