French word

transpiration

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁɑ̃spiʁasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsweat

Example

La transpiration me gêne en été.

My sweat bothers me in summer.

Illustration for transpiration (sweat)

More examples

Il y a une tache de transpiration sur sa chemise.

There is a sweat stain on his shirt.

Core concept

Moisture escaping from an organism through its outer surface and drying into the air.

Common phrases

  • tache de transpiration

    sweat stain

  • transpiration sous les aisselles

    underarm sweat

Similar words

sueur: A salty, watery fluid released by the skin in heat or exercise.

Definition in French

Désigne la perte d'eau par évaporation à la surface d'un organisme, se manifestant chez l'humain par la sueur et chez les plantes par la transpiration foliaire.

Word origin

The French noun derives from Latin transpiratio through French transpirer, with trans- expressing passage through and spirare meaning to breathe.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary discussion of human sweat, sueur is more common, while transpiration often sounds formal or technical.

Other meanings

  • sweatingnoun
  • transpirationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • antitranspirantantiperspirantnoun
  • transpirantsweatyadjective

Word lists with this word