French word

grinçant

Pronunciation

IPA/gʁɛ̃sɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivegrating

Example

Cette voix grinçante m'empêche de dormir.

This grating voice keeps me from sleeping.

Illustration for grinçant (grating)

More examples

Il a poussé un rire grinçant pendant la réunion.

He let out a grating laugh during the meeting.

Core concept

A sharp squeal that pierces a quiet room and makes the ear recoil.

Common phrases

  • rire grinçant

    grating laugh

  • voix grinçante

    grating voice

  • cri grinçant

    grating cry

Similar words

aigu: Noticeably high-pitched and sharp-sounding.
perçant: Describing a piercing sound that seems to stab the ear.
criard: High-pitched and overly conspicuous, making a sound or voice unpleasant.

Definition in French

Qui produit un son aigu et désagréable qui heurte l'oreille; se dit d'une voix, d'un bruit ou d'un rire.

Word origin

Grinçant is formed from grincer with the present-participle ending -ant, while grincer is a sound-imitating verb for harsh friction or squeaking.

Usage tips

  • Grinçant usually describes a voice, laugh, or noise rather than a person, so it focuses on sound quality rather than character.

Other meanings

  • shrilladjective
  • unpleasantadjective

Opposites

  • douxgentleadjective
  • mélodieuxmelodiousadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word