French Conversation · Level 83
60 words
French word
douloureux
Pronunciation
IPA/duluʁø/
Meaning
- adjectivepainful
Example
C'est vraiment douloureux.
It is really painful.
More examples
Le massage a réduit la zone douloureuse.
The massage reduced the painful area.
Core concept
A painful experience, injury, or memory that weighs heavily on the body or mind.
Common phrases
une zone douloureuse
painful area
une plaie douloureuse
painful wound
Similar words
pénible: Unpleasant, difficult, or burdensome enough to cause distress over time.
insupportable: So distressing or painful that it cannot be endured.
atroce: Causing extreme and intense physical or emotional suffering.
aigu: Describing a brief, sharp, stabbing pain.
Definition in French
Qui cause une douleur physique ou une souffrance morale.
Word origin
The adjective developed from the noun douleur by adding the French suffix -eux, which forms adjectives meaning characterized by the noun's quality.
Usage tips
- For ordinary statements of current physical pain, French usually uses avoir mal or faire mal, whereas douloureux describes the painful thing or experience.
Other meanings
- distressingadjective
Opposites
- indolorepainlessadjective
Related words
- douloureusementpainfullyadverb
- douleurpainnoun