French word

fardeau

Pronunciation

IPA/faʁdo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounburden

Example

Ce travail devient un fardeau pour moi.

This work is becoming a burden to me.

Illustration for fardeau (burden)

More examples

Il a essayé de se débarrasser du fardeau de ses dettes.

He tried to get rid of the burden of his debts.

Core concept

A heavy load that slows someone down, whether carried on the body or borne as a responsibility.

Common phrases

  • se débarrasser du fardeau

    get rid of the burden

  • hériter d'un fardeau

    inherit a burden

Similar words

charge: A substantial burden arising from assigned work or duties.
responsabilité: The weight of responsibility tied to a role or position.
poids: The heaviness of an object or body.
souci: A source of worry or anxiety.

Definition in French

Chose lourde ou pesante à porter, et, par extension, ce qui pèse moralement ou matériellement sur quelqu'un (responsabilité, contrainte).

Word origin

Fardeau comes from Old French fardel, meaning a bundle or small load, and later developed its figurative sense of a burdensome responsibility.

Usage tips

  • Fardeau is masculine, so the usual forms are un fardeau and ce fardeau, with the pattern être un fardeau pour quelqu'un common in French.

Other meanings

  • loadnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word