le tonnerre
thunder
C’est le bruit fort qui accompagne les éclairs pendant un orage.
Definition & meaning
tonnerre is a masculine noun that refers to the loud, rumbling sound that follows a lightning flash during a thunderstorm.
- Meteorological: The natural phenomenon of thunder. It is often used to describe the noise associated with a storm.
- Figurative: It can be used to describe any loud, booming noise, such as the sound of cannons or a very loud shout.
- Exclamation: In some contexts, it is used as an interjection (similar to "damn!" or "heavens!"), often in the phrase tonnerre de Dieu or simply tonnerre!.
Grammar & Word origin
- Grammar: Masculine noun (le tonnerre). It is often used in the plural in certain contexts, though singular is standard for the phenomenon itself.
- Origin: The word comes from the Old French tonre, which derived from the Latin tonitrus, meaning thunder. This is rooted in the Latin verb tonare, meaning to thunder.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- {fracas} (referring to a loud crash)
- {grondement} (a rumbling sound)
- {bruit} (a general term for noise)
- {détonation} (a sudden, loud explosion)
Antonyms There are no direct antonyms for a sound of this nature, though one might contrast it with:
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Examples
On entend le tonnerre ce soir.noun
We hear the thunder tonight.
Le tonnerre a fait trembler les fenêtres pendant la nuit.noun
The thunder made the windows shake during the night.
Le tonnerre a surpris les enfants pendant le pique-nique.noun
The thunder surprised the children during the picnic.
Est-ce que tu as peur du tonnerre ?noun
Are you afraid of thunder?
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