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A2 noun #3,000 más común 11 min de lectura

peine

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos peine en 30 segundos

Explicación peine in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners encounter 'peine' in very simple, fixed expressions. The focus is primarily on the expression 'avoir de la peine' to mean 'to be sad' and the very useful 'à peine' to mean 'barely' or 'just'. For a beginner, 'peine' is often introduced alongside other basic emotions. You might learn to say 'J'ai de la peine' as a more nuanced alternative to 'Je suis triste.' It is important for A1 students to recognize that 'peine' is not physical pain. Simple sentences like 'Il est à peine arrivé' (He just arrived) are common at this stage. The goal is to recognize the word in context and use it in one or two basic idioms. You should start to see it as a word that describes a 'heavy' feeling in the heart or a 'small amount' of something when used with 'à'. It is a feminine noun, so we say 'la peine' or 'une peine'. Don't worry about the legal or complex effort-based meanings yet; focus on the sadness and the 'barely' meanings.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'peine' in more varied grammatical structures. This is where you learn 'valoir la peine' (to be worth it). You will practice saying 'Ça vaut la peine de visiter ce musée' (It's worth visiting this museum). You also learn the negative version: 'Ce n'est pas la peine' (It's not worth it/There's no need). This is incredibly common in daily French. You will also expand your use of 'peine' to describe difficulty: 'J'ai de la peine à comprendre' (I'm having trouble understanding). At A2, you should be comfortable distinguishing between 'peine' (emotional/effort) and 'mal' (physical pain). You will also encounter 'faire de la peine à quelqu'un' (to make someone sad). For example, 'Ça me fait de la peine' (That makes me sad/hurts my feelings). This level is about building functional phrases that allow you to express your needs and feelings more accurately than you could at A1.

At the B1 level, you start to see the more formal and abstract uses of 'peine'. You will encounter it in news stories about the legal system, such as 'une peine de prison' or 'une peine d'amende'. You will also learn more complex adverbial uses of 'à peine'. For example, 'À peine avait-il fini qu'il a commencé un autre projet' (Hardly had he finished when he started another project). This requires understanding how 'à peine' can trigger a change in sentence structure. You will also use 'se donner de la peine' (to go to a lot of trouble) to describe your own or others' hard work. At this level, you should be able to choose between 'peine', 'douleur', and 'tristesse' based on the specific nuance you want to convey. You are moving from fixed phrases to using the word flexibly in your own creative writing and speaking. You will also recognize 'peine perdue' as a way to describe a wasted effort.

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At the B2 level, you explore the literary and nuanced shades of 'peine'. You will encounter the word in more complex texts and formal speeches. You should understand the difference between 'peine' and 'chagrin' in a literary context. You will also learn more formal legal terms like 'peine capitale' or 'peine de substitution'. Your use of 'à peine' will become more sophisticated, using it to express subtle limits or boundaries. You might use it in arguments: 'C'est à peine croyable !' (It's hardly believable!). You will also be expected to use 'peine' in more formal writing, such as essays where you discuss social issues like 'la peine de mort'. At B2, you should also be familiar with the phrase 'sous peine de' (under penalty of/at the risk of) in formal notices or instructions. Your understanding of the word is now deep enough to handle its various meanings across different registers, from slang to high-level academic French.

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At the C1 level, 'peine' is used with high precision. you will analyze how authors use the word to create atmosphere or character depth. You will understand the philosophical implications of 'peine' in French literature and thought. For instance, the 'peine' of the human condition in existentialist works. You will be able to use the word in very specific idiomatic ways, such as 'sans peine' (without difficulty/easily) in a way that sounds natural and elegant. You will also be able to navigate the subtle differences between 'avoir de la peine à' and 'peiner à', the latter being a more formal verb form. In professional contexts, you will use 'peine' to discuss labor, legalities, and complex emotions with a high degree of nuance. You will also be aware of archaic or poetic uses of the word that might appear in classical French theater. Your command of 'peine' is now near-native, allowing you to use it as a tool for both clarity and rhetorical effect.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'peine' and its historical and linguistic evolution. You can discuss the etymology from Latin 'poena' and how it diverged into the various modern meanings. You can identify and use the word in highly specialized domains, such as philosophy, law, and high literature, with perfect register control. You might use 'peine' in a rhetorical sense to evoke a specific historical or cultural resonance. Your understanding of the word includes its most obscure idioms and its role in the rhythm of the French language. You can distinguish between the most subtle shades of meaning—for example, the difference between 'une peine' and 'un châtiment' in a theological or judicial debate. At this level, the word 'peine' is no longer just a vocabulary item; it is a versatile instrument that you can play with total fluency, whether you are writing a legal brief, a literary critique, or engaging in a deep philosophical discussion.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

peine en 30 segundos

Peine primarily means sorrow or emotional pain, often used in the phrase 'avoir de la peine' to express sadness.
It also signifies effort or difficulty, as seen in the common expression 'valoir la peine' (to be worth it).
In a legal context, it refers to a sentence or punishment, such as 'la peine de mort' (the death penalty).
The adverbial phrase 'à peine' is essential for saying 'barely' or 'hardly' in everyday French conversation.

The French noun peine is a multifaceted term that serves as a cornerstone of emotional expression and practical description in the French language. At its core, it translates to 'sorrow,' 'distress,' or 'pain,' but its utility extends far beyond mere emotional state. Derived from the Latin poena, which signifies punishment or penalty, the word has evolved to encompass three primary conceptual pillars: emotional suffering, physical or mental effort, and legal consequences. Understanding when to use peine requires a sensitivity to context, as it can describe the profound grief of a loss just as easily as the mild inconvenience of a difficult task. In daily conversation, you will encounter it most frequently when people discuss their feelings or the difficulty of an undertaking. Unlike the English word 'pain,' which often defaults to physical sensation, peine leans heavily into the realm of the heart and the mind. When a French speaker says

J'ai de la peine pour lui.

they are expressing deep empathy or sadness for someone else's situation. This emotional weight is a defining characteristic of the word. However, the word also transitions into the world of labor and exertion. The phrase se donner de la peine means to put in a great deal of effort or to take pains to achieve something. This duality makes it an essential word for learners to master.

Emotional Context: Used to describe sadness, heartbreak, or a feeling of being moved by someone's misfortune. It is less intense than 'désespoir' (despair) but more profound than 'tristesse' (sadness).

Effort Context: Used to describe the difficulty of a task. Phrases like 'avoir de la peine à faire quelque chose' indicate that one is struggling to accomplish a goal.

Furthermore, the legal dimension of the word remains active in modern French. A criminal receives a peine de prison (prison sentence). This variety of meanings ensures that peine appears in literature, news, and casual street talk. It is a word that bridges the gap between the internal world of feelings and the external world of actions and consequences. For example, in a formal setting, one might discuss the peine capitale (capital punishment), while in a cozy café, a friend might remark

Ça me fait de la peine de partir.

which translates to 'It makes me sad to leave.' This versatility is why the word is introduced early in the CEFR A2 level but continues to be refined through C2 as learners explore its idiomatic and literary nuances. Whether it is the 'peine perdue' (lost cause/wasted effort) of a failed project or the 'à peine' (hardly) of a quick transition, the word is indispensable.

Legal Context: Refers to the sentence or punishment handed down by a court of law, maintaining its original Latin root meaning.

Elle a réussi avec beaucoup de peine.

La peine était trop lourde à porter.

Ce n'est pas la peine de pleurer.

Ultimately, peine is a word that requires the speaker to look beyond the literal and feel the weight of the context.

Using peine correctly involves navigating several distinct grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions. Because the word can function as a noun denoting an emotion, a noun denoting effort, or part of an adverbial phrase, its placement and the verbs it pairs with are crucial. To express sadness, we use the construction avoir de la peine. For instance,

J'ai beaucoup de peine depuis son départ.

here, 'de la' is the partitive article used because 'peine' is uncountable in this context. If you want to say that something makes you sad, you use faire de la peine à quelqu'un. Example:

Tes paroles lui font de la peine.

Moving to the concept of effort, the phrase avoir de la peine à followed by an infinitive is a standard way to say 'to have trouble doing' something.

Il a de la peine à lire sans lunettes.

Common Structure: À peine: This acts as an adverb meaning 'barely' or 'hardly'. Note that when 'à peine' starts a sentence, it often triggers a subject-verb inversion in formal writing: 'À peine était-il arrivé qu'il repartit.'

Common Structure: Valoir la peine: Meaning 'to be worth the effort'. 'Ça vaut la peine d'essayer' (It is worth trying). Note the use of 'de' before the infinitive.

Another vital usage is se donner de la peine, which means to go to a lot of trouble or work hard.

Elle s'est donné beaucoup de peine pour organiser cette fête.

Notice that 'donné' remains invariable here because the direct object 'peine' follows the verb. In more formal or legal contexts, the word is used with definite articles: la peine de mort, une peine d'amende. The plural form peines is less common but can be found in literary contexts to describe various 'sorrows' or 'labors'.

Sentence Pattern: Sous peine de: Meaning 'under penalty of' or 'at the risk of'. 'Il faut payer sous peine d'amende' (You must pay or risk a fine).

Nous avons à peine fini de manger.

Ça n'en vaut pas la peine.

When using peine to mean effort, it is often interchangeable with 'mal' in colloquial speech (e.g., 'J'ai du mal à comprendre' vs 'J'ai de la peine à comprendre'), but peine sounds slightly more formal or elegant. In summary, the word requires careful attention to the accompanying prepositions and verbs to ensure the intended meaning—be it emotional, physical, or judicial—is clearly conveyed. Mastery of these patterns allows for a high degree of precision in both written and spoken French.

The word peine resonates throughout French society, from the high-brow halls of the Académie Française to the bustling streets of Marseille. In literature, it is a favorite of 19th-century novelists like Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert, who used it to paint vivid pictures of the human condition. In Hugo's Les Misérables, the character Jean Valjean suffers through a peine that is both a legal sentence and a spiritual burden. When reading classic French texts, you will see peine used to describe the 'travail' (work) of the soul. In contemporary media, the word is ubiquitous in news reporting, particularly in legal journalism. You will hear anchors discuss les peines encourues (the potential sentences) for a crime. This legal weight gives the word a sense of gravity and authority.

In the News: Frequent use in judicial reports: 'La peine maximale a été requise.' (The maximum sentence was requested.)

In Daily Conversation: Commonly used in the idiom 'à peine' to express that something just happened or is barely true. 'Il est à peine huit heures' (It's barely eight o'clock).

In a more mundane setting, such as an office, a manager might say,

Ne vous donnez pas cette peine, je vais m'en occuper.

this is a polite way of saying 'Don't go to that trouble.' In schools, teachers might tell students who are struggling,

Je vois que tu as de la peine avec cet exercice.

referencing the difficulty of the task. The word also appears in film titles and scripts to evoke a sense of drama or struggle. Whether it's a documentary about the peine de mort or a romantic comedy where a character has de la peine à avouer ses sentiments, the word is a vital tool for storytelling.

Social Context: Expressing 'peine' is socially acceptable in France as it shows empathy and depth of character. It is often seen as more 'authentic' than a simple 'je suis triste'.

La peine de cœur est universelle.

Il a été condamné à une peine exemplaire.

On a à peine eu le temps de se dire au revoir.

From the philosophical depths of 'la condition humaine' to the practicalities of a 'peine de prison,' this word is a mirror reflecting the various struggles and punishments of life. You will hear it in the silence of a funeral and the noise of a courtroom. It is, quite simply, everywhere.

For English speakers, the word peine is a frequent source of confusion due to its proximity to the English word 'pain.' The most common error is using peine to describe physical pain from an injury. If you stub your toe, you do not say 'J'ai de la peine au pied'; you say 'J'ai mal au pied' or 'J'ai une douleur au pied.' Using peine in this context would make it sound like your foot is emotionally depressed. Another mistake involves the phrase 'à peine.' Many learners try to translate 'hardly' using 'difficilement' in contexts where 'à peine' is required. While 'difficilement' describes the manner of doing something with difficulty, 'à peine' describes the degree or the temporal proximity.

Mistake: Peine vs. Douleur: Peine is emotional or effort-based. Douleur is physical or intense suffering. 'La douleur d'une fracture' vs 'La peine d'une rupture'.

Mistake: Confusion with Punition: While 'peine' is a legal sentence, 'punition' is a general punishment (like for a child). You wouldn't say a judge gave a 'punition' unless it was very informal.

Learners also struggle with the preposition in 'valoir la peine.' It is 'valoir la peine de' followed by an infinitive. Forgetting the 'de' is a common A2/B1 level error.

Incorrect: Ça vaut la peine visiter Paris. Correct: Ça vaut la peine de visiter Paris.

Another nuance is the difference between 'avoir de la peine' (to be sad) and 'avoir de la peine à' (to have difficulty). Leaving out the 'à' completely changes the meaning from a struggle to an emotion.

J'ai de la peine à vous croire. (I have trouble believing you.) vs J'ai de la peine. (I am sad.)

Mistake: Overusing 'Triste': Learners often use 'Je suis triste' for everything. Using 'J'ai de la peine' shows a more advanced vocabulary and a better grasp of French idiom.

Finally, avoid translating 'it's not worth it' as 'ce n'est pas la valeur.' The correct idiom is 'ce n'est pas la peine' or 'ça n'en vaut pas la peine.' By avoiding these pitfalls, your French will sound much more natural and precise.

Elle a peine à cacher sa joie. (She can hardly hide her joy.)

Ne vous donnez pas tant de peine.

C'est de la peine perdue.

Mastering these distinctions is what separates an intermediate learner from a truly fluent speaker.

To truly enrich your French vocabulary, it is essential to understand how peine compares to its synonyms and near-synonyms. While peine is versatile, other words can offer more specific nuances. For emotional sorrow, chagrin and tristesse are the primary alternatives. Chagrin often implies a more acute, deep-seated grief, frequently associated with love or loss (e.g., 'un chagrin d'amour'). Tristesse is the general state of being sad.

Peine vs. Chagrin: Peine is often used for empathy or difficulty; chagrin is for personal, heavy grief.

Peine vs. Effort: When 'peine' means effort, synonyms include 'effort', 'labeur' (formal/literary), or 'mal' (informal). 'J'ai du mal' is very common in speech.

In legal contexts, peine can be replaced by sanction or condamnation. A sanction is a general consequence for breaking a rule, whereas a peine is specifically the sentence given by a court. If you are discussing the difficulty of a task, difficulté is the most direct noun, but peine adds a layer of 'struggle' or 'toil'.

Il a surmonté ses difficultés sans peine.

For the adverbial 'à peine,' alternatives include 'tout juste' (just/barely) or 'guère' (hardly - formal).

Peine vs. Malheur: Malheur refers to a state of misfortune or a tragic event, while peine is the feeling resulting from it.

Son chagrin était immense.

C'est un travail de longue haleine.

Il n'a guère de chance de réussir.

In summary, while peine is a fantastic 'utility' word, knowing when to use chagrin for deep sorrow, mal for daily struggles, or sanction for rules will make your French far more expressive. The word peine remains the most versatile, but its 'neighbors' in the dictionary provide the color and precision needed for advanced communication. Understanding these relationships allows you to choose the exact 'weight' of the word you need for any given situation.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The English word 'pain' and the French word 'peine' share the exact same Latin ancestor ('poena'). However, English evolved to use 'pain' primarily for physical suffering, while French kept 'peine' for emotional struggle and legal punishment, using 'douleur' for physical pain.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /pɛn/

US /pɛn/

The stress is on the only syllable 'peine'.

Rima con

reine (queen) scène (scene) haine (hate) plaine (plain) chêne (oak) haleine (breath) gaine (sheath) veine (vein)

Errores comunes

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Nasalizing the vowel (it is a clean 'e' sound, not nasal).
Confusing it with 'pain' (bread), which is nasal.
Pronouncing it like 'pay-ne' (it should be 'penn').
Weakening the 'n' sound at the end.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize, but meanings vary by context.

Escritura 3/5

Requires knowledge of specific idioms and prepositions.

Expresión oral 3/5

Natural usage of 'à peine' and 'valoir la peine' takes practice.

Escucha 2/5

Clearly pronounced, but context is key for meaning.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

triste mal travail prison valoir

Aprende después

pénible souffrance chagrin condamnation labeur

Avanzado

affliction tribulation châtiment rémission amende

Gramática que debes saber

Subject-verb inversion after 'À peine' at the start of a sentence.

À peine était-il parti que la pluie commença.

Use of 'de' after 'valoir la peine'.

Ça vaut la peine de lire ce livre.

Partitive article 'de la' with the uncountable noun 'peine'.

Il a de la peine.

The preposition 'à' when 'avoir de la peine' means 'to have difficulty'.

Elle a de la peine à marcher.

Past participle agreement with 'se donner de la peine' (it remains invariable).

Ils se sont donné de la peine.

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Ejemplos por nivel

J'ai de la peine.

I am sad.

Avoir + de la + peine (uncountable noun).

Il est à peine midi.

It is barely noon.

À peine means barely.

Quelle peine !

What a pity / How sad!

Exclamative phrase.

Elle a de la peine pour lui.

She feels sorry for him.

Peine used for empathy.

J'ai à peine mangé.

I have barely eaten.

Adverbial usage.

C'est une grande peine.

It is a great sorrow.

Noun with an adjective.

Tu as de la peine ?

Are you sad?

Simple question.

Il marche avec peine.

He walks with difficulty.

Avec peine = with difficulty.

Ça vaut la peine de voir ce film.

It is worth seeing this movie.

Valoir la peine de + infinitive.

Ce n'est pas la peine de venir.

There is no need to come.

Negative structure for 'no need'.

Ça me fait de la peine.

It makes me sad.

Faire de la peine à quelqu'un.

J'ai de la peine à finir mon travail.

I am having trouble finishing my work.

Avoir de la peine à + infinitive.

Il s'est donné de la peine pour nous.

He went to a lot of trouble for us.

Se donner de la peine = to put in effort.

Nous avons à peine fini.

We have barely finished.

Compound tense with à peine.

Elle a de la peine à parler.

She is having trouble speaking.

Physical or emotional difficulty.

C'est de la peine perdue.

It's a waste of time / effort.

Common idiom.

Le juge a prononcé une peine sévère.

The judge handed down a severe sentence.

Legal context.

À peine était-il entré qu'il est ressorti.

Hardly had he entered when he left again.

Subject-verb inversion after 'à peine'.

Elle a réussi sans peine.

She succeeded without difficulty.

Sans peine = easily.

Il a été condamné à une peine de prison.

He was sentenced to a prison term.

Passive voice with legal noun.

Ça n'en vaut pas la peine.

It's not worth it.

Use of 'en' as a pronoun for the cause.

Il a de la peine à joindre les deux bouts.

He is struggling to make ends meet.

Idiomatic expression for financial struggle.

Sa peine était visible sur son visage.

His sorrow was visible on his face.

Abstract noun as subject.

Il faut agir sous peine de sanctions.

One must act or risk sanctions.

Sous peine de + noun.

La peine de mort a été abolie en France en 1981.

The death penalty was abolished in France in 1981.

Historical/Legal term.

C'est à peine si nous nous connaissons.

We hardly even know each other.

C'est à peine si... = it's barely the case that...

Il a purgé sa peine.

He served his sentence.

Purger une peine = to serve a sentence.

Elle a pris la peine de m'écrire une lettre.

She took the trouble to write me a letter.

Prendre la peine de = to take the trouble to.

Sa peine s'est transformée en colère.

His sorrow turned into anger.

Abstract noun development.

La peine encourue est de dix ans.

The potential sentence is ten years.

Peine encourue = penalty incurred.

Il a surmonté sa peine avec courage.

He overcame his sorrow with courage.

Verb + noun + prepositional phrase.

C'est à peine croyable.

It is hardly believable.

Adverb modifying an adjective.

L'accusé a bénéficié d'une réduction de peine.

The accused benefited from a sentence reduction.

Formal judicial terminology.

Il peinait à dissimuler son émotion.

He was struggling to hide his emotion.

Verb 'peiner' used instead of the noun.

Son œuvre témoigne de la peine des hommes.

His work bears witness to human suffering.

Literary/Philosophical use.

Elle a accompli sa tâche non sans peine.

She accomplished her task not without difficulty.

Litotes (double negative for emphasis).

La peine de vivre est un thème récurrent.

The struggle of living is a recurring theme.

Existential usage.

À peine le soleil était-il levé qu'elle partait.

Hardly was the sun up when she was leaving.

High-level literary inversion.

Il a été condamné par contumace à la peine maximale.

He was sentenced in absentia to the maximum penalty.

Advanced legal vocabulary.

Une âme en peine.

A soul in torment / a lost soul.

Idiomatic literary expression.

La proportionnalité des peines est un principe de droit.

The proportionality of sentences is a legal principle.

Legal philosophy.

L'auteur explore les peines infinies de l'exil.

The author explores the infinite sorrows of exile.

Abstract plural usage.

Il s'est extirpé de sa condition au prix de mille peines.

He escaped his condition at the cost of a thousand struggles.

Hyperbolic literary expression.

La peine afflictive et infamante.

Corporal and degrading punishment.

Archaic legal terminology.

À peine de nullité, l'acte doit être signé.

On pain of nullity, the deed must be signed.

Technical legal requirement.

Il n'en a cure, au grand dam de ceux qui se donnent de la peine.

He doesn't care, much to the chagrin of those who work hard.

Complex sentence with multiple idioms.

Le poète chante les peines de cœur de son siècle.

The poet sings the heartaches of his century.

Metaphorical usage.

C'est une peine perdue d'avance.

It is a struggle lost in advance.

Emphasis on futility.

Colocaciones comunes

grande peine

peine de prison

valoir la peine

à peine

faire de la peine

avoir de la peine à

se donner de la peine

peine de mort

sans peine

sous peine de

Frases Comunes

Ce n'est pas la peine.

— There is no need to do it or it's not worth it.

Ce n'est pas la peine de te lever.

À peine si...

— Used to say that something is barely the case.

À peine s'il m'a regardé.

Peine perdue.

— Wasted effort or a hopeless cause.

Essayer de le convaincre est peine perdue.

Avoir de la peine pour quelqu'un.

— To feel sorry or empathetic towards someone.

J'ai de la peine pour les victimes.

Prendre la peine de...

— To take the time or trouble to do something.

Merci d'avoir pris la peine de venir.

Réduction de peine.

— A reduction in a legal sentence.

Il a obtenu une réduction de peine.

C'est à peine croyable.

— It is hardly believable.

Son histoire est à peine croyable.

Vivre dans la peine.

— To live in sorrow or hardship.

Ils vivent dans la peine depuis l'accident.

Une âme en peine.

— A lost or suffering soul.

Il erre comme une âme en peine.

Se donner de la peine.

— To work hard or put in effort.

Il s'est donné de la peine pour ce projet.

Se confunde a menudo con

peine vs pain

English 'pain' means physical suffering, whereas French 'peine' is emotional or effort-based.

peine vs douleur

Douleur is used for physical pain or intense grief; peine is softer or related to effort.

peine vs mal

Avoir du mal is more common in casual speech for difficulty; avoir de la peine is more formal.

Modismos y expresiones

"Valoir la peine"

— To be worth the effort or time required.

Le voyage vaut la peine.

neutral

"À peine"

— Hardly, barely, or just.

J'ai à peine commencé.

neutral

"Peine perdue"

— A lost cause; effort that leads to nothing.

C'est peine perdue de lui parler.

neutral

"Une âme en peine"

— Someone who looks sad, lost, or lonely.

Elle marchait seule comme une âme en peine.

literary

"Faire de la peine"

— To hurt someone's feelings or make them sad.

Ça me fait de la peine de te voir ainsi.

neutral

"Avoir de la peine à"

— To have difficulty doing something.

Il a de la peine à marcher.

neutral

"Sous peine de"

— At the risk of / under penalty of.

Répondez sous peine de sanctions.

formal

"Sans peine"

— Easily; without any struggle.

Elle a réussi l'examen sans peine.

neutral

"Se donner de la peine"

— To take pains; to work hard.

Il se donne de la peine pour ses enfants.

neutral

"Ce n'est pas la peine"

— It's not worth it; don't bother.

Ne range pas, ce n'est pas la peine.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

peine vs pain

Orthographic similarity to English 'pain'.

In French, 'pain' means 'bread'. The English 'pain' translates to 'douleur' or 'peine'.

Je mange du pain. (I eat bread.)

peine vs punition

Both relate to consequences.

Punition is a general punishment (like for children); peine is a legal sentence or the feeling of sorrow.

L'enfant a reçu une punition.

peine vs chagrin

Both mean sadness.

Chagrin is deeper, more acute grief. Peine is more general or empathetic.

Un chagrin inconsolable.

peine vs difficulté

Both mean trouble.

Difficulté is the objective state of a task; peine is the subjective struggle to do it.

La difficulté de l'exercice.

peine vs souffrance

Both relate to feeling bad.

Souffrance is more intense and enduring than peine.

Une longue souffrance.

Patrones de oraciones

J'ai de la peine.

J'ai de la peine aujourd'hui.

Ça vaut la peine de [verb].

Ça vaut la peine de manger ici.

J'ai de la peine à [verb].

J'ai de la peine à comprendre.

À peine [verb]...

À peine fini, il dort.

Sous peine de [noun].

Sous peine d'amende.

Se donner de la peine pour [noun/verb].

Il se donne de la peine pour réussir.

Non sans peine.

Il a fini, non sans peine.

À peine de nullité.

Signez, à peine de nullité.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

peine (sorrow/punishment)

pénalité (penalty)

pénitence (penance)

Verbos

peiner (to struggle/to sadden)

pénaliser (to penalize)

punir (to punish)

Adjetivos

pénible (painful/difficult)

pénal (penal)

pénitent (penitent)

Relacionado

punition

châtiment

douleur

tristesse

effort

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely frequent in both spoken and written French.

Errores comunes

Using 'peine' for physical pain. → J'ai une douleur au bras.
'Peine' is emotional or effort-based. For physical injury, use 'douleur' or 'mal'.
Saying 'Ça vaut la peine visiter'. → Ça vaut la peine de visiter.
The idiom 'valoir la peine' requires the preposition 'de' before an infinitive.
Confusing 'peine' (sorrow) with 'pain' (bread). → J'ai de la peine. / J'achète du pain.
These are homophones for some learners, but 'peine' has a clear 'n' and 'pain' is nasal.
Using 'punition' for a prison sentence. → Il a reçu une peine de prison.
'Peine' is the correct term for a legal sentence; 'punition' is for general or minor discipline.
Forgetting inversion after 'À peine' at sentence start. → À peine était-il là qu'il est parti.
In formal French, starting with 'À peine' triggers a subject-verb inversion.

Consejos

Use 'Peine' for Empathy

When a friend is going through a hard time, say 'J'ai de la peine pour toi'. It sounds more sincere and deeper than 'Je suis désolé'. It shows you are sharing their emotional burden.

Remember the 'de' in 'Valoir la peine'

Always include 'de' before the verb: 'Ça vaut la peine DE faire...'. This is a common mistake for English speakers who want to say 'It's worth doing' without a preposition.

Time with 'À peine'

Use 'à peine' to emphasize that something just happened. 'Il est à peine parti' means he left just a few seconds or minutes ago. It adds precision to your storytelling.

Legal vs. School

Use 'peine' for court sentences and 'punition' for school or home punishments. Calling a prison sentence a 'punition' sounds childish, and calling a child's timeout a 'peine' sounds overly dramatic.

Wasted Effort

Remember 'peine perdue'. It's a very common way to say something is a waste of time. 'C'est peine perdue de lui demander de l'argent' (It's a lost cause to ask him for money).

Effort with 'Se donner'

Use 'se donner de la peine' to show you are working hard. 'Je me donne de la peine pour apprendre le français'. It sounds much more dedicated than just saying 'je travaille dur'.

Peine vs. Douleur

If you can point to where it hurts on your body, use 'douleur'. If you feel it in your 'heart' or 'mind', use 'peine'. This simple rule will help you avoid the most common mistake with this word.

Literary Flair

In creative writing, use 'une âme en peine' to describe a lonely or sad character. It’s a classic French idiom that evokes strong imagery of a ghost or a lost person.

Under Penalty of...

In formal notices, use 'sous peine de'. 'Sous peine de poursuites' (under penalty of prosecution). It's essential for understanding official French documents and warnings.

Don't Nasalize

Ensure the 'n' in 'peine' is heard and the vowel is clean. If you nasalize it, it will sound like 'pain' (bread), which will confuse your listeners in many contexts.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'pen' (peine). Writing a 1000-page book with a tiny pen would be a lot of 'peine' (effort) and might cause you 'peine' (sorrow) if you ran out of ink!

Asociación visual

Imagine a prisoner in a cell (legal peine) who is crying (emotional peine) because he has to move a huge rock (effort peine).

Word Web

Tristesse Effort Prison À peine Valoir Cœur Loi Difficulté

Desafío

Try to use 'peine' in three different ways today: one for sadness, one for effort, and one for 'barely' (à peine).

Origen de la palabra

The word 'peine' comes from the Old French 'peine', which originated from the Latin 'poena'. In Latin, 'poena' meant 'punishment', 'penalty', or 'recompense'. This Latin root itself was borrowed from the Greek 'poinē' (ποινή), meaning 'blood money' or 'fine'.

Significado original: Punishment or legal penalty.

Romance (Indo-European)

Contexto cultural

When discussing the 'peine de mort', be aware it is a sensitive historical and political topic in France.

English speakers often misuse 'peine' for physical pain. In English, 'taking pains' matches the effort meaning of 'peine'.

Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables' (focuses on peines sociales). The song 'Ne me quitte pas' by Jacques Brel (expresses intense peine). Albert Camus' 'L'Étranger' (discusses the peine de mort).

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Expressing Sadness

J'ai de la peine.
Ça me fait de la peine.
Quelle peine !
C'est une grande peine.

Discussing Difficulty

J'ai de la peine à comprendre.
Il a fini avec peine.
C'est de la peine perdue.
Réussir sans peine.

Legal Situations

Une peine de prison.
La peine capitale.
Une réduction de peine.
Sous peine d'amende.

Describing Effort

Se donner de la peine.
Prendre la peine de...
Ça vaut la peine.
Mille peines.

Time and Degree

À peine arrivé.
À peine croyable.
C'est à peine si...
À peine fini.

Inicios de conversación

"Est-ce que ça vaut la peine de visiter ta ville natale ?"

"As-tu déjà eu de la peine pour un personnage de film ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui te fait de la peine dans l'actualité ?"

"Est-ce que tu as de la peine à apprendre la grammaire française ?"

"Te donnes-tu beaucoup de peine pour tes études ?"

Temas para diario

Décris une situation où tu t'es donné beaucoup de peine pour réussir quelque chose.

Qu'est-ce qui vaut la peine d'être vécu selon toi ?

Parle d'un moment où tu as eu de la peine pour un ami.

Est-ce que tu penses que la peine de mort est efficace ? Pourquoi ?

Décris un projet qui était 'peine perdue'. Qu'as-tu appris ?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, for a headache, you should use 'mal de tête'. 'Peine' is for emotional sadness or the effort required for a task. Using 'peine' for a headache would sound like your head is emotionally depressed. Always use 'mal' or 'douleur' for physical symptoms.

Both can mean 'to have difficulty', but 'avoir du mal' is much more common in everyday, informal speech. 'Avoir de la peine à' sounds a bit more formal or literary. Additionally, 'avoir de la peine' (without 'à') also means 'to be sad', whereas 'avoir du mal' never means sadness.

Mostly, yes. It can mean 'barely' (quantity), 'hardly' (intensity), or 'just' (time). For example, 'à peine 5 euros' (barely 5 euros), 'il parle à peine' (he hardly speaks), and 'il est à peine arrivé' (he just arrived). It is a very versatile adverbial phrase.

It is neutral. You can use it in casual conversation with friends and in formal writing. It is the standard way to say 'to be worth it' in French. A slightly more informal version is 'ça vaut le coup', but 'ça vaut la peine' is always correct and very common.

The term is 'la peine de mort'. It is a fixed legal expression. You might also hear 'la peine capitale' in more formal or journalistic contexts. France abolished the 'peine de mort' in 1981, so you will often hear this in historical discussions.

It means 'wasted effort' or 'a lost cause'. If you try to do something that is impossible or if your efforts are ignored, you can say 'c'est peine perdue'. It conveys a sense of futility. For example: 'Essayer de le convaincre est peine perdue' (Trying to convince him is a lost cause).

Yes, 'les peines' can refer to multiple legal sentences or various sorrows/struggles. In literature, you might see 'les peines de cœur' (heartaches). However, in the sense of 'difficulty' or 'sadness' in daily speech, it is usually singular: 'J'ai de la peine'.

It is always feminine: 'la peine'. Remembering the gender is important for using the correct articles ('une peine', 'de la peine') and ensuring that adjectives agree with it ('une peine sévère').

The verb is 'peiner'. It can mean 'to struggle' (e.g., 'je peine à finir') or 'to sadden someone' (e.g., 'cela me peine de voir ça'). It is a regular -er verb, but using the noun forms like 'avoir de la peine' is often more common in spoken French.

You use 'à peine' followed by the verb and then the subject (inversion). For example: 'À peine était-il arrivé qu'il a dû repartir' (Hardly had he arrived when he had to leave again). This is a higher-level grammatical structure common in writing.

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Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas

writing

Write a simple sentence in French saying you are sad.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

A basic use of the word to express emotion.