This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A2 verb 12 min read

souffrir

Examples
Explanation souffrir in your Level:
At the A1 level, beginners are primarily focused on basic survival vocabulary and expressing simple states of being. While 'souffrir' is officially categorized as an A2 word, A1 learners might encounter it when visiting a doctor in a French-speaking country or when expressing that they are in pain. At this stage, the most important thing to know is that 'souffrir' means 'to suffer' or 'to be in pain'. You do not need to master all the complex conjugations yet, but recognizing the word is crucial. If a doctor asks 'Vous souffrez ?' (Are you suffering/in pain?), you should understand that they are asking about your physical discomfort. As a beginner, it is often easier to use the phrase 'avoir mal' (to have an ache), like 'j'ai mal à la tête' (I have a headache), rather than trying to conjugate 'souffrir'. However, knowing 'souffrir' allows you to understand native speakers when they describe severe pain or illness. You might also hear it in very common, simple expressions of empathy. For example, if someone is visibly hurt, a French person might say 'Il souffre' (He is suffering). The key takeaway for A1 learners is to associate the word 'souffrir' with the concept of pain, hospitals, medicine, and physical distress. Do not worry about the irregular past participle or the prepositions just yet; simply focus on recognizing the word in its basic present tense forms, especially 'je souffre' (I suffer) and 'il souffre' (he suffers). This foundational recognition will prepare you for the more grammatical applications introduced in the A2 level, where you will learn to construct full sentences detailing the exact causes of the suffering.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the A2 level, 'souffrir' becomes an active part of your vocabulary, and you are expected to use it correctly in simple sentences. The primary focus at this stage is learning the essential grammatical structure: 'souffrir de' (to suffer from). This is how you explain what is causing the pain or illness. For example, you need to be able to say 'Je souffre d'une allergie' (I suffer from an allergy) or 'Il souffre du dos' (He suffers from back pain). Notice that you must use the preposition 'de', and you must know how to contract it with definite articles ('de' + 'le' = 'du', 'de' + 'les' = 'des'). This is a core A2 grammar skill. Additionally, you must master the present tense conjugation. Despite ending in '-ir', it conjugates like an '-er' verb: je souffre, tu souffres, il/elle souffre, nous souffrons, vous souffrez, ils/elles souffrent. This irregularity is a classic A2 test point. You should also start using the passé composé form: 'j'ai souffert' (I suffered). At this level, you can use 'souffrir' to talk about common ailments, weather conditions ('souffrir du froid' - to suffer from the cold), and basic emotional states, such as being sad after a difficult event. You are moving beyond just saying 'j'ai mal' (it hurts) to describing chronic conditions or ongoing situations that cause discomfort. Practice writing short paragraphs about health, using 'souffrir de' alongside basic medical vocabulary like 'le médecin' (the doctor), 'l'hôpital' (the hospital), and 'les médicaments' (the medicine). This will solidify your ability to handle health-related conversations during your travels or language exchanges.
At the B1 level, your use of 'souffrir' expands significantly beyond physical ailments into the realm of emotions and abstract concepts. You are now expected to express feelings, opinions, and describe complex situations. 'Souffrir' is frequently used to describe emotional pain, such as heartbreak, grief, or the stress of a difficult job. You might say, 'Elle a beaucoup souffert après son divorce' (She suffered a lot after her divorce). This emotional depth is a hallmark of B1 communication. Furthermore, you will start using the word to describe non-human subjects. For instance, you can talk about how an organization, an economy, or an environment is negatively impacted by external factors: 'L'industrie du tourisme souffre de la crise' (The tourism industry is suffering from the crisis). This usage is very common in news reports and articles, which you should be reading at the B1 level. Grammatically, you should be comfortable using 'souffrir' in various tenses, including the imparfait ('il souffrait' - he used to suffer/was suffering) for descriptions in the past, and the futur simple ('ils souffriront' - they will suffer) for predictions. You will also encounter the causative construction 'faire souffrir' (to cause pain), as in 'Ces chaussures me font souffrir' (These shoes hurt me). At this stage, it is important to distinguish between 'souffrir' and its synonyms like 'supporter' (to bear) or 'endurer' (to endure), choosing the most appropriate word for the specific context. Your vocabulary is becoming more nuanced, allowing you to participate in deeper conversations about society, personal struggles, and current events.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Reaching the B2 level means you have a strong command of the language and can understand and use 'souffrir' in sophisticated, nuanced, and idiomatic ways. At this stage, you are engaging with complex texts, literature, and debates. You will frequently encounter 'souffrir' in its more abstract and figurative senses. For example, you might discuss how a piece of art 'souffre d'un manque d'originalité' (suffers from a lack of originality) or how a political plan 'souffre de nombreux défauts' (suffers from numerous flaws). This demonstrates a high level of fluency, where the verb is used to indicate a deficiency or a weakness rather than literal pain. Additionally, you will be expected to understand and use older or more formal meanings of the word, such as 'to tolerate' or 'to allow'. In negative constructions, 'je ne peux pas le souffrir' means 'I cannot stand him' or 'I cannot bear him'. This is a very natural, idiomatic expression that native speakers use frequently. You will also see it used in formal written French with the subjunctive, though less commonly. Your mastery of the prepositions and conjugations should be flawless by now, allowing you to focus on the stylistic choice of words. You should be comfortable reading French literature, where 'souffrir' is a central theme in romantic and existentialist works, describing the human condition and emotional torment. You are no longer just communicating basic needs; you are analyzing, critiquing, and expressing complex emotional and intellectual states using a rich and varied vocabulary.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 level, your understanding of 'souffrir' is nearly that of a native speaker, encompassing all its literary, historical, and highly idiomatic uses. You are expected to manipulate the language with precision and elegance. At this advanced stage, you will encounter 'souffrir' in highly formal texts, legal documents, and classical literature. One specific advanced usage is the expression 'ne souffrir aucune exception' (to allow/tolerate no exception) or 'ne souffrir aucun retard' (to brook no delay). In these contexts, 'souffrir' means to admit or to permit, a usage that stems directly from its Latin roots and is reserved for high-register communication. You will also use complex idiomatic expressions flawlessly, such as 'souffrir le martyre' (to suffer terribly/to go through agony) without hesitation. Your ability to distinguish between 'souffrir', 'pâtir', 'endurer', and 'subir' is sharp; you know exactly when to use each based on the subtle connotations of the sentence. For example, you know that 'pâtir' emphasizes the negative consequences of an action, while 'souffrir' emphasizes the experience of the pain itself. You can easily navigate complex grammatical structures, such as using the present participle 'souffrant' both as a verb form and as an adjective (e.g., 'une personne souffrante' - a sick person). At C1, you are not just learning the word; you are analyzing its impact on the tone of a text, understanding how authors use it to evoke empathy, highlight systemic failures, or express absolute intolerance in formal rhetoric.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 level, the highest level of proficiency, your use of 'souffrir' demonstrates absolute mastery, reflecting a deep cultural and linguistic immersion. You understand the word not just as a unit of vocabulary, but as a concept deeply embedded in French philosophy, history, and the collective psyche. You can effortlessly engage in philosophical discussions about 'la souffrance' (suffering) drawing on the works of French thinkers like Pascal, Sartre, or Camus, where the verb 'souffrir' takes on existential dimensions. You are intimately familiar with archaic and poetic uses of the word, such as the pronominal form 'se souffrir' (to endure oneself), which might appear in 17th-century literature like the plays of Racine or Corneille. Your spoken and written French exhibits a perfect, intuitive grasp of register, knowing exactly when to deploy a colloquialism versus a highly elevated literary phrase. You can play with the word's dual meanings—pain and tolerance—in complex rhetorical structures, perhaps using it ironically or metaphorically in academic essays or professional debates. You recognize regional variations in how suffering is expressed across the Francophone world. At this level, there are no grammatical hurdles; the focus is entirely on style, rhetoric, and cultural resonance. You use 'souffrir' to craft compelling narratives, deliver persuasive arguments, and express the most profound depths of the human experience with the elegance and precision characteristic of a highly educated native French speaker.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples
The French verb souffrir is a fundamental vocabulary word that translates primarily to the English verbs to suffer, to be in pain, or to endure. It is a highly versatile word used in both medical contexts to describe physical ailments and in emotional contexts to describe psychological distress. When you are learning French, understanding how to use souffrir correctly will greatly enhance your ability to express discomfort, empathy, and personal experiences. The word belongs to the third group of French verbs, ending in -ir, but interestingly, it is conjugated like a regular -er verb in the present tense (je souffre, tu souffres, il souffre). This makes it somewhat unique and requires special attention from learners. In daily conversation, you will frequently hear this word when people are discussing their health, their emotional state after a difficult event, or even when complaining about the weather, such as suffering from the heat. Beyond personal health, souffrir is also used in broader contexts, such as an economy suffering from inflation or a business suffering from poor management. This demonstrates the word's flexibility across different registers of speech, from casual chats with friends to formal news broadcasts.
Physical Pain
Used when a person has a bodily injury or illness. For example, suffering from a broken leg or a severe migraine.

Il va souffrir s'il ne prend pas ses médicaments immédiatement.

Furthermore, the verb is often followed by the preposition de when indicating the cause of the suffering. For instance, souffrir de la chaleur means to suffer from the heat. This structure is non-negotiable and must be memorized as a set phrase.
Emotional Pain
Used to express grief, sadness, or heartbreak. Emotional suffering is a common theme in French literature and music.

Elle semble souffrir en silence depuis le départ de son ami.

When discussing empathy, you might hear phrases like je ne veux pas te voir souffrir, meaning I do not want to see you suffer. This showcases the emotional weight the word carries. It is not a word used lightly in emotional contexts; it conveys a deep sense of anguish or persistent discomfort. The historical evolution of the word traces back to the Latin sufferre, meaning to bear or to endure. This etymological root is still visible in the modern French usage, where souffrir can sometimes mean to tolerate, especially in negative constructions like je ne peux pas le souffrir (I cannot stand him).
Intolerance
In older or more formal French, it means to tolerate or endure someone's presence, usually used in the negative.

Le roi ne pouvait souffrir aucune contradiction de la part de ses ministres.

Les plantes vont souffrir si tu oublies de les arroser pendant la canicule.

Personne ne devrait avoir à souffrir de la faim dans le monde moderne.

Understanding these nuances is crucial for mastering French at an intermediate and advanced level. The ability to distinguish between physical pain, emotional distress, and lack of tolerance will make your French sound much more natural and precise. It is a word that bridges the gap between basic survival vocabulary and complex emotional expression, making it indispensable for any serious learner of the French language.
Using the verb souffrir correctly in sentences requires a solid understanding of its conjugation patterns, the prepositions it pairs with, and the contexts in which it is most appropriate. As mentioned previously, despite its -ir ending, souffrir is conjugated like an -er verb in the present indicative: je souffre, tu souffres, il/elle/on souffre, nous souffrons, vous souffrez, ils/elles souffrent. This anomaly is shared with a few other verbs like ouvrir (to open) and offrir (to offer). Mastering this conjugation is the first step to using the word confidently. The most critical grammatical structure to learn is souffrir de, which translates to to suffer from. The preposition de is mandatory when you are specifying the cause of the suffering.
Souffrir de + Noun
This structure is used to indicate the specific illness, condition, or situation causing the pain. For example, souffrir d'une maladie (to suffer from an illness).

Mon grand-père commence à souffrir de problèmes cardiaques.

When the noun following de is masculine or plural, you must use the contracted articles du (de + le) or des (de + les). For example, il souffre du dos (he suffers from back pain) or elle souffre des articulations (she suffers from joint pain). This is a common stumbling block for English speakers who might forget the article contraction.
Absolute Usage
Souffrir can also be used without a preposition to simply state that someone is in pain, without specifying the cause.

Le blessé continuait de souffrir en attendant l'arrivée de l'ambulance.

In the passé composé, the auxiliary verb is avoir, and the past participle is souffert. For example, j'ai beaucoup souffert pendant cette épreuve (I suffered a lot during this ordeal). The past participle is irregular, which is another point of memorization for learners. Another advanced but very common usage is the pronominal form, se souffrir, though it is rare in modern French except in specific literary expressions meaning to tolerate oneself. However, the expression faire souffrir (to cause pain) is extremely common.
Faire Souffrir
This causative construction means to make someone suffer or to cause pain to someone.

Ces chaussures neuves me font terriblement souffrir quand je marche.

Il a été accusé de faire souffrir les animaux sans aucune raison valable.

Nous ne pouvons pas laisser ce patient souffrir davantage, donnez-lui des analgésiques.

By practicing these different sentence structures—using the correct prepositions, mastering the irregular conjugations, and employing the causative form—you will be able to integrate souffrir seamlessly into your French conversations, allowing you to express complex states of physical and emotional well-being with precision and native-like fluency.
The verb souffrir is ubiquitous in the French-speaking world, appearing in a wide array of contexts ranging from the highly formal to the intimately personal. One of the most common places you will hear this word is in medical settings. When you visit a doctor in France, Canada, or any Francophone country, the physician will likely ask you to describe your symptoms. They might ask, De quoi souffrez-vous? (What are you suffering from?). In this environment, the word is clinical and precise, used to diagnose and treat ailments. Beyond the doctor's office, you will frequently encounter souffrir in daily conversations about the weather. French speakers often complain about extreme temperatures using this verb.
Weather Complaints
Used to express severe discomfort due to climatic conditions like heatwaves or freezing cold.

Pendant la canicule de cet été, tout le monde va souffrir de la chaleur étouffante.

Another prominent domain is the news media. Journalists use souffrir to describe the adverse effects of economic, social, or environmental crises. You might read articles about how the tourism industry is suffering due to a pandemic, or how local agriculture is suffering from a drought. In these contexts, the word personifies non-human entities, attributing a state of distress to organizations, economies, or ecosystems.
Journalistic Usage
Employed to describe systemic, economic, or environmental damage and distress.

L'économie nationale continue de souffrir des conséquences de l'inflation mondiale.

You will also hear souffrir extensively in French arts, particularly in music, literature, and cinema. The theme of suffering for love is a classic trope in French culture. Romantic songs often feature lyrics about a broken heart, where the singer expresses how much they suffer because of an unrequited love or a painful breakup.
Romantic Literature
A staple in poetry and prose to depict the tragic aspects of human relationships and existential dread.

Dans ce roman, le protagoniste aime secrètement la reine et doit souffrir en silence.

Je refuse de te voir souffrir pour quelqu'un qui ne te mérite pas.

Les associations caritatives travaillent dur pour aider ceux qui continuent de souffrir de la pauvreté.

In sports, commentators use the word to describe athletes who are struggling physically during a grueling match or race, such as a cyclist suffering on a steep mountain climb in the Tour de France. This wide spectrum of application makes souffrir a highly visible and frequently heard verb in everyday French life, making it essential for comprehensive language comprehension.
When English speakers learn the verb souffrir, several common pitfalls frequently arise, primarily related to conjugation, preposition usage, and false friends. The most glaring mistake is incorrectly conjugating the verb in the present tense. Because souffrir ends in -ir, many learners mistakenly apply the standard second-group verb endings (like finir: je finis, tu finis, il finit). This results in incorrect forms like je souffris or il souffrit in the present tense.
Conjugation Error
Applying -ir verb rules instead of the irregular -er style endings for this specific verb group.

Incorrect: Je souffris. Correct: Je vais souffrir si je mange cela, alors je dis non.

Another major area of confusion is the preposition that follows souffrir. In English, we say to suffer from. Direct translation sometimes leads learners to use the French preposition pour (for) or par (by) incorrectly, or to omit the preposition entirely. The correct structure is always souffrir de. Furthermore, learners often forget to contract the preposition de with definite articles.
Missing Contractions
Failing to combine 'de' with 'le' to make 'du', or 'de' with 'les' to make 'des'.

Il ne faut pas dire 'souffrir de le dos', mais plutôt qu'il va souffrir du dos.

A more subtle mistake involves semantic nuance. English speakers often use the word suffer loosely, as in I suffered through a boring movie. In French, using souffrir in such trivial contexts sounds overly dramatic and unnatural. French speakers would prefer to use s'ennuyer (to be bored) or trouver le temps long (to find the time long) for trivial annoyances. Souffrir should generally be reserved for genuine physical pain, significant emotional distress, or measurable negative impacts.
Over-dramatization
Using souffrir for minor annoyances where a milder verb would be more appropriate for a native speaker.

Pour ne pas souffrir de la faim pendant le long voyage, emportez des collations.

Elle a peur de souffrir lors de l'intervention chirurgicale prévue demain matin.

C'est une erreur de penser qu'il faut souffrir pour être belle, la santé est primordiale.

Finally, in the past tense, learners sometimes mistakenly use être as the auxiliary verb instead of avoir, likely confusing it with movement verbs. Always remember that the passé composé is j'ai souffert. By being mindful of these common errors—irregular conjugation, correct prepositional usage, appropriate context severity, and the correct auxiliary verb—you will drastically improve your grammatical accuracy and cultural fluency when using this important French verb.
While souffrir is a highly useful and common verb, the French language offers a rich variety of synonyms and alternative expressions that can convey similar meanings with different nuances. Knowing these alternatives allows you to express yourself more precisely and avoid repetition. One of the most direct alternatives for physical pain is the expression avoir mal (to have pain/to ache). This is often preferred in casual, everyday conversation when pointing out a specific localized pain.
Avoir mal
The most common way to say something hurts. It is less intense and more localized than souffrir.

Il a tellement mal au genou qu'il semble souffrir à chaque pas qu'il fait.

For emotional distress or enduring a difficult situation, the verb endurer (to endure) or supporter (to bear/to stand) are excellent alternatives. Supporter is particularly useful when talking about tolerating a person or a difficult condition, whereas souffrir in this context can sound a bit archaic or overly formal.
Supporter
Means to bear or tolerate. Often used in the negative to say you cannot stand someone or something.

Au lieu de souffrir en silence, elle a décidé de ne plus supporter cette situation toxique.

Another related verb is pâtir, which means to suffer the consequences of something. It is more formal and often used in written French or news reports. For example, l'entreprise a pâti de la crise (the company suffered from the crisis). This is a great word to use in a B2 or C1 level essay to show vocabulary range.
Pâtir
A formal alternative meaning to suffer the negative consequences or fallout of an event.

Les innocents finissent toujours par souffrir des mauvaises décisions prises par leurs dirigeants incompétents.

Il est difficile de voir son animal de compagnie souffrir sans pouvoir l'aider directement.

Si tu continues à t'entraîner avec cette blessure, tu vas souffrir encore plus demain.

By familiarizing yourself with these alternatives—avoir mal for everyday aches, supporter for tolerance, and pâtir for formal consequences—you can reserve souffrir for its most impactful uses, thereby elevating your overall command of the French language and demonstrating a nuanced understanding of vocabulary.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Je souffre beaucoup aujourd'hui.

I am suffering a lot today.

Basic present tense conjugation for 'je'.

2

Il souffre à l'hôpital.

He is suffering at the hospital.

Basic present tense conjugation for 'il'.

3

Tu souffres ?

Are you suffering?

Simple question using intonation.

4

Le chien souffre.

The dog is suffering.

Using the verb with a singular noun subject.

5

Nous souffrons ici.

We are suffering here.

Present tense conjugation for 'nous'.

6

Elle ne souffre pas.

She is not suffering.

Basic negative construction with 'ne...pas'.

7

Vous souffrez, monsieur ?

Are you in pain, sir?

Formal question using 'vous'.

8

Ils souffrent du froid.

They are suffering from the cold.

Introduction to 'souffrir de' with a plural subject.

1

Je souffre d'une terrible migraine ce matin.

I am suffering from a terrible migraine this morning.

Using 'souffrir de' with a feminine noun.

2

Mon père souffre du dos depuis des années.

My father has been suffering from back pain for years.

Contraction 'du' (de + le).

3

As-tu beaucoup souffert chez le dentiste ?

Did you suffer a lot at the dentist?

Passé composé with auxiliary 'avoir' and irregular past participle 'souffert'.

4

Les plantes vont souffrir si tu ne les arroses pas.

The plants will suffer if you don't water them.

Futur proche construction (aller + infinitive).

5

Elle souffre des articulations quand il pleut.

She suffers from joint pain when it rains.

Contraction 'des' (de + les) for plural nouns.

6

Nous avons souffert de la chaleur pendant nos vacances.

We suffered from the heat during our vacation.

Passé composé with 'nous'.

7

Il ne veut pas te voir souffrir.

He doesn't want to see you suffer.

Infinitive usage after another conjugated verb.

8

De quelle maladie souffrez-vous exactement ?

What illness do you suffer from exactly?

Inversion for a formal question.

1

Elle a énormément souffert de la perte de son mari.

She suffered enormously from the loss of her husband.

Using an adverb of intensity with the passé composé.

2

L'économie locale souffre du manque de touristes cette année.

The local economy is suffering from the lack of tourists this year.

Using the verb with an abstract, non-human subject.

3

Je souffrais d'insomnie quand j'étais étudiant.

I used to suffer from insomnia when I was a student.

Imparfait tense for a repeated past condition.

4

Ces nouvelles chaussures me font vraiment souffrir.

These new shoes are really hurting me.

Causative construction 'faire souffrir'.

5

Il est triste de voir un animal souffrir en silence.

It is sad to see an animal suffer in silence.

Infinitive phrase following 'voir'.

6

Si nous ne faisons rien, les générations futures souffriront.

If we do nothing, future generations will suffer.

Futur simple tense in a 'si' clause structure.

7

Bien qu'il souffre, il continue de sourire.

Even though he is suffering, he continues to smile.

Subjunctive mood triggered by 'bien que'.

8

Ils ont souffert de discrimination pendant longtemps.

They suffered from discrimination for a long time.

Abstract noun usage following 'souffrir de'.

1

Ce projet de loi souffre de nombreuses lacunes juridiques.

This bill suffers from numerous legal loopholes.

Figurative usage meaning 'to be deficient in'.

2

Je ne peux pas le souffrir, il est trop arrogant.

I can't stand him, he is too arrogant.

Idiomatic usage meaning 'to tolerate', usually in the negative.

3

Le secteur de l'hôtellerie a particulièrement souffert des restrictions sanitaires.

The hospitality sector suffered particularly from the health restrictions.

Advanced vocabulary integration (secteur de l'hôtellerie).

4

Il aurait moins souffert s'il avait écouté les conseils du médecin.

He would have suffered less if he had listened to the doctor's advice.

Conditionnel passé used with a pluperfect 'si' clause.

5

C'est une situation dont beaucoup de citoyens souffrent au quotidien.

It's a situation from which many citizens suffer on a daily basis.

Relative pronoun 'dont' replacing 'de laquelle'.

6

Elle a été transportée à l'hôpital, souffrant de multiples fractures.

She was taken to the hospital, suffering from multiple fractures.

Present participle 'souffrant' used to link clauses.

7

La réputation de l'entreprise a gravement souffert de ce scandale.

The company's reputation suffered heavily from this scandal.

Adverb placement between auxiliary and past participle.

8

Il faut que tu cesses de te faire souffrir pour des détails sans importance.

You must stop making yourself suffer over unimportant details.

Reflexive causative construction in the subjunctive.

1

Ce règlement est strict et ne souffre aucune dérogation.

This regulation is strict and allows for no exceptions.

Highly formal usage meaning 'to permit' or 'to brook'.

2

L'œuvre de cet auteur a souffert de la comparaison avec ses contemporains.

This author's work suffered from comparison with his contemporaries.

Literary critique context.

3

Il a souffert le martyre pour mener à bien cette expédition périlleuse.

He went through agony to successfully complete this perilous expedition.

Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!