French word

plaindre

Pronunciation

IPA/plɛ̃dʁ/

Meaning

  • verbcomplain

Example

Elle se plaint souvent.

She often complains.

Illustration for plaindre (complain)

More examples

Il se plaint du bruit.

He complains about the noise.

Core concept

A person makes a troubled feeling heard, either as a complaint or as compassion directed toward someone else.

Common phrases

  • se plaindre de

    complain about

  • se plaindre à

    complain to ___

Similar words

se plaindre: Share personal complaints to obtain sympathy or a response.
râler: Complain aloud about daily occurrences.
ronchonner: Let out quiet complaints with an unhappy tone.
grogner: Mutter short complaints in a low voice.

Definition in French

S'emploie principalement pour signaler qu'on se plaint ou qu'on fait connaître son mécontentement (se plaindre); en sens non pronominal, il peut signifier éprouver de la pitié pour quelqu'un.

Word origin

The Latin verb plangere passed into Old French as plaindre, and its sense of lamenting developed into modern complaint and pity.

Usage tips

  • Plaindre quelqu'un means to feel sorry for someone, whereas se plaindre de means to complain about something; the pronoun changes the construction and sense.

Other meanings

  • pityverb
  • sympathize with ___verb

Opposites

  • se contenterbe satisfiedverb

Related words

Word lists with this word