French Conversation · Level 35
75 words
French word
larme
Pronunciation
IPA/laʁm/
Meaning
- feminine nountear
Example
Il essuya ses larmes avec un mouchoir.
He wiped his tears with a handkerchief.
More examples
Elle a retenu ses larmes pendant toute la cérémonie.
She held back her tears throughout the ceremony.
Core concept
A drop of eye fluid that can mark sadness, tenderness, or another strong feeling.
Common phrases
verser une larme
shed a tear
retenir ses larmes
hold back one's tears
les larmes de joie
tears of joy
Similar words
pleurs: Loud, intense crying.
sanglot: Intermittent sobbing that catches the breath.
Definition in French
Goutte sécrétée par l'œil, souvent employée pour désigner la manifestation visible d'une tristesse ou d'une émotion.
Word origin
Larme comes from Latin lacrima by way of Old French, developing from a bodily secretion into a word also used for its emotional display.
Usage tips
- In expressions such as avoir les larmes aux yeux, the plural often describes tears gathered in the eyes rather than tears already falling.