French Conversation · Level 65
60 words
French word
mélancolie
Pronunciation
IPA/melɑ̃koli/
Meaning
- feminine nounmelancholy
Example
Aujourd'hui, j'ai de la mélancolie.
Today, I feel melancholy.
More examples
En écoutant cette chanson, j'ai senti une pointe de mélancolie.
As I listened to this song, I felt a touch of melancholy.
Core concept
A soft sadness that lingers while the mind calmly reflects on earlier times.
Common phrases
avoir de la mélancolie
to have melancholy
ressentir de la mélancolie
to feel melancholy
une vague de mélancolie
a wave of melancholy
Similar words
tristesse: A simple feeling of sadness caused by painful events or disappointment.
nostalgie: A bittersweet longing for enjoyable times or places from the past.
chagrin: Deep sorrow or grief caused by a breakup, separation, or loss.
dépression: A prolonged, severe low mood that disrupts daily life as a mental illness.
Definition in French
Sentiment de tristesse douce et contemplative, souvent lié à la nostalgie.
Word origin
Mélancolie derives from Greek melankholia, meaning "black bile", and passed through medical Latin and Old French before naming a reflective emotional state.
Usage tips
- The usual verb pattern is avoir de la mélancolie or éprouver de la mélancolie, while je suis mélancolie is not grammatical French.
Other meanings
- wistfulnessnoun
- sadnessnoun
Related words
- mélancoliquemelancholicadjective
- mélancoliquementmelancholicallyadverb