laborieusement em 30 segundos
- An adverb meaning 'laboriously' or 'with great effort'.
- Describes slow, difficult progress in physical or mental tasks.
- Common in formal French, news, and literature.
- Can imply a lack of natural ease or fluidity in the result.
The French adverb laborieusement is a sophisticated term that captures the essence of effort, difficulty, and often a certain lack of fluidity. At its core, it translates to 'laboriously' or 'painstakingly' in English, but its usage in French carries specific nuances that are essential for a B2 level learner to grasp. It is derived from the adjective laborieux (laborious) and the noun labeur (hard labor). When you describe an action as being done laborieusement, you are emphasizing that the progress made was slow, fraught with obstacles, and required a significant expenditure of energy—either physical or mental.
- Physical Context
- In a physical sense, it describes movement that is hindered. Imagine an elderly person climbing a steep set of stairs or a hiker navigating through thick mud. Each step is a struggle. You would say they are moving laborieusement. It implies that every inch of progress is earned through sheer willpower and physical exertion.
Le vieil homme montait laborieusement les marches de l'église, s'arrêtant à chaque palier pour reprendre son souffle.
- Intellectual and Creative Context
- In intellectual or creative endeavors, the word often suggests a lack of natural talent or inspiration, where the result is achieved through grinding work rather than ease. A student might write an essay laborieusement, searching for every word and struggling with the structure. While the final product might be correct, the process was painful and slow. It contrasts sharply with words like aisément (easily) or fluidement (fluidly).
In social or political contexts, you will often hear this word in news reports regarding negotiations or the drafting of laws. If two opposing parties reach an agreement laborieusement, it means the discussions were long, difficult, and perhaps even contentious. It suggests that the peace or the deal is fragile because it took so much effort to construct. This adverb is a favorite of journalists and writers because it adds a layer of drama and weight to the action being described. It transforms a simple verb into a narrative of struggle.
Après dix heures de débat, les ministres ont laborieusement rédigé un communiqué commun.
- Emotional Tone
- There is often a sense of exhaustion attached to this word. When someone speaks laborieusement, perhaps due to an illness or extreme fatigue, it suggests that even forming words is a burden. It evokes empathy in the listener, as it highlights the vulnerability and the grit of the subject. It is rarely used for joy; it is the language of the grind, the uphill battle, and the hard-won victory.
Ultimately, laborieusement is about the friction between a person and their task. Whether it is a writer struggling with a sentence, a mountain climber fighting against gravity, or a diplomat navigating a crisis, the word signals that progress is being made, but at a high cost. It is a testament to perseverance, even if that perseverance feels heavy and unrefined.
Using laborieusement correctly requires placing it in a context where the verb implies a process or a progression. Since it is an adverb, it typically follows the verb in simple tenses or is placed between the auxiliary and the past participle in compound tenses. However, its placement can also be shifted to the beginning of a sentence for stylistic emphasis, particularly in literary writing.
- With Verbs of Movement
- When paired with verbs like avancer (to advance), grimper (to climb), or se déplacer (to move), it highlights the physical difficulty of the terrain or the state of the subject. It suggests a slow, rhythmic struggle.
La voiture avançait laborieusement sur la route enneigée.
- With Verbs of Creation and Thought
- When used with écrire (to write), construire (to build), or élaborer (to develop), it implies that the work did not come naturally. It suggests a process of trial and error, heavy editing, and significant mental strain.
Il a laborieusement traduit ce poème complexe vers le français.
In the passé composé, the placement is crucial. While 'Il a travaillé laborieusement' is correct, putting the adverb between 'a' and 'travaillé' (Il a laborieusement travaillé) is more common in formal writing and adds a rhythmic weight to the sentence. In negative sentences, the adverb usually follows the negation: 'Il n'avançait que laborieusement' (He was only advancing with great difficulty).
- Describing Communication
- It is frequently used to describe someone struggling to find their words, perhaps due to emotion, a foreign language barrier, or a medical condition. 'S'exprimer laborieusement' suggests that the speaker is fighting for every syllable.
Ému, il s'exprima laborieusement devant la foule attentive.
Furthermore, 'laborieusement' can modify adjectives in certain contexts, though this is less common. For example, 'un texte laborieusement construit' (a painstakingly constructed text) emphasizes the architecture of the writing. This usage is very common in literary criticism, where a critic might praise or pan a work based on how 'laborious' the construction feels to the reader. If the effort is too visible, it might be seen as a flaw; if the effort resulted in perfection, it is seen as a virtue.
When writing, consider the pace of your sentence. Because 'laborieusement' is a long, five-syllable word, it naturally slows down the reader. This is a form of 'onomatopoeia' in prose—the word itself feels like the effort it describes. Use this to your advantage to create a mood of struggle or slow, deliberate progress in your French compositions.
You are unlikely to hear laborieusement in a casual conversation about what someone did over the weekend, unless they are being intentionally dramatic or humorous. It belongs to a more formal or literary register of French. However, it is ubiquitous in specific professional and intellectual environments.
- In News and Journalism
- French news anchors and political journalists love this word. It is the standard way to describe difficult diplomatic breakthroughs. You'll hear it in phrases like 'L'accord a été laborieusement conclu à l'aube' (The agreement was laboriously concluded at dawn). It conveys the idea that the negotiators worked through the night, overcame many disagreements, and finally reached a result.
Le projet de loi a été laborieusement adopté par l'Assemblée nationale après des semaines de contestation.
- In Literature and History
- If you read 19th-century French literature (Zola, Balzac, Flaubert), you will encounter this word frequently. It is used to describe the lives of the working class (the prolétariat) or the slow, grinding progress of a character's social climbing. In history books, it describes the slow reconstruction of a country after a war or the difficult birth of a new political era.
In academic settings, a professor might use it to critique a student's work. If a thesis is 'laborieusement écrit,' it's a polite way of saying it's a bit of a slog to read—that the ideas are there, but the writing lacks elegance. Conversely, it can be used to describe the 'travail de fourmi' (ant-like work) of a researcher who has meticulously gathered data over many years.
Les chercheurs ont laborieusement compilé des milliers de données pour prouver leur théorie.
- Sports Commentary
- You might hear a sports commentator say a team 's'est imposée laborieusement' (won laboriously). This means they didn't win because they were much better, but because they fought hard, perhaps winning by a small margin in a match that wasn't very pretty to watch. It highlights the 'grinta' or the grit of the players.
In summary, while you might not use it while buying a baguette, 'laborieusement' is a key word for understanding the French media, literature, and formal debates. It is a word that respects the struggle and acknowledges that not everything in life comes easily. It is the adverb of the long haul.
For English speakers, the primary trap with laborieusement is its connotation. While it translates to 'laboriously,' the way we use that word in English can slightly differ from its French counterpart. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid.
- Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Travailler dur'
- Many learners use laborieusement simply to mean 'working hard.' However, 'travailler dur' is more neutral and positive. 'Laborieusement' adds a sense of slowness and difficulty. If you say 'Je travaille laborieusement,' it sounds like you are struggling and making very little progress, rather than just being a hard worker.
Incorrect: J'ai laborieusement étudié pour mon examen (implies you struggled to understand). Better: J'ai beaucoup travaillé pour mon examen.
- Mistake 2: Using it for 'Difficultly' (Difficilement)
- While they are synonyms, difficilement is much more common and versatile. Laborieusement is specific to the 'labor' or the 'process.' For example, you 'entendez difficilement' (hear with difficulty) a faint sound, but you wouldn't say 'entendre laborieusement' because hearing isn't a constructive labor.
Another mistake is the register. Using laborieusement in a text message to a friend can seem overly formal or even sarcastic. If you want to say you had a hard time doing something in a casual way, you might say 'J'en ai bavé' (I really struggled) or 'C'était galère' (It was a mess/hard).
- Mistake 3: Overlooking the Negative Connotation in Art
- In the world of art and literature, calling a work 'laborieux' or saying it was 'laborieusement produit' can be an insult. It suggests that the artist tried too hard and the result is heavy, lacking the 'souffle' (breath) of inspiration. Learners often use it as a compliment for someone's dedication, but they might accidentally be saying the work feels uninspired.
Ce film est laborieusement mis en scène (The directing feels forced and heavy).
Finally, watch out for the spelling. It is often misspelled by forgetting the 'ie' in the middle. It comes from 'laborieux', so the 'i' must remain. It is laborieusement, not 'laboreusement'. Remembering the connection to 'laborious' in English can help with the 'i', but don't forget the French 'e' before 'ment'.
To truly master laborieusement, you must understand how it sits alongside its synonyms. Each alternative offers a slightly different shade of meaning, allowing you to be more precise in your French expression.
- Laborieusement vs. Difficilement
- Difficilement is the most general term for 'with difficulty.' It can be used for anything. Laborieusement is a subset of difficulty that specifically involves a long, grinding process of work or movement. Use 'difficilement' for 'I can hardly hear you' and 'laborieusement' for 'I am slowly writing this difficult report.'
- Laborieusement vs. Péniblement
- Péniblement comes from 'peine' (pain/effort). It is very close to 'laborieusement' but emphasizes the suffering or the unpleasantness of the effort. If you are walking with a broken leg, you are walking 'péniblement.' If you are climbing a mountain because it's steep, you are climbing 'laborieusement.'
Il a gravi laborieusement la colline (focus on effort). Il a gravi péniblement la colline (focus on his pain/exhaustion).
- Laborieusement vs. Arduement
- Arduement (arduously) is much rarer in French than in English. It is very formal. 'Laborieusement' is usually the preferred choice in French for what an English speaker would call 'arduous.'
If you want to emphasize the meticulous nature of the work rather than the struggle, consider minutieusement (meticulously) or studieusement (studiously). These words carry a more positive connotation of care and attention to detail, without the implication of 'heaviness' that 'laborieusement' can have.
Elle a minutieusement nettoyé les outils (very careful). Elle a laborieusement nettoyé les outils (it was a long, hard job).
In literary contexts, you might also see poussivement. This is a more evocative, almost negative word, suggesting someone who is 'out of breath' or 'wheezing' through their work. It's often used for old engines or tired writers. 'Laborieusement' remains the most balanced and common choice for describing a significant, slow-moving effort.
Exemplos por nível
Il marche laborieusement vers la maison.
He walks laboriously toward the house.
Adverb modifying the verb 'marche'.
Elle finit son travail laborieusement.
She finishes her work laboriously.
The adverb follows the verb.
Le petit chat grimpe laborieusement sur le canapé.
The little cat climbs laboriously onto the sofa.
Used here to show physical effort.
Nous avançons laborieusement dans la neige.
We are advancing laboriously in the snow.
First person plural present tense.
Il écrit son nom laborieusement.
He writes his name laboriously.
Shows a lack of ease in a skill.
Le vieux train monte laborieusement la colline.
The old train laboriously climbs the hill.
Personification of the train.
Ils travaillent laborieusement dans le jardin.
They work laboriously in the garden.
Third person plural.
Je lis ce livre laborieusement.
I am reading this book laboriously.
Implies the book is difficult.
L'enfant a laborieusement monté l'escalier.
The child laboriously climbed the stairs.
Passé composé with adverb placement.
Il s'exprime laborieusement en français.
He expresses himself laboriously in French.
Reflexive verb + adverb.
Le jardinier a laborieusement enlevé toutes les mauvaises herbes.
The gardener laboriously removed all the weeds.
Emphasis on the repetitive task.
Nous avons laborieusement porté les cartons au troisième étage.
We laboriously carried the boxes to the third floor.
Physical effort in the past.
Le peintre a laborieusement fini son tableau.
The painter laboriously finished his painting.
Creative effort.
Elle a laborieusement appris ses leçons de piano.
She laboriously learned her piano lessons.
Learning process.
Le soleil se lève laborieusement derrière les nuages.
The sun rises laboriously behind the clouds.
Metaphorical use for slow progress.
Ils ont laborieusement nettoyé la plage après la fête.
They laboriously cleaned the beach after the party.
Group effort.
Le projet a laborieusement progressé malgré les obstacles.
The project progressed laboriously despite the obstacles.
Abstract subject.
Il a dû laborieusement expliquer sa décision à sa famille.
He had to laboriously explain his decision to his family.
Infinitive construction.
Les randonneurs ont laborieusement atteint le sommet.
The hikers laboriously reached the summit.
Hard-won achievement.
Elle a laborieusement traduit ce document technique.
She laboriously translated this technical document.
Mental labor.
L'entreprise a laborieusement remboursé ses dettes.
The company laboriously repaid its debts.
Financial context.
Le dialogue a été laborieusement rétabli entre les deux voisins.
Dialogue was laboriously re-established between the two neighbors.
Passive voice.
Il a laborieusement construit sa réputation au fil des années.
He laboriously built his reputation over the years.
Long-term process.
Le vieux moteur a démarré laborieusement ce matin.
The old engine started laboriously this morning.
Mechanical context.
L'accord de paix a été laborieusement négocié pendant des mois.
The peace agreement was laboriously negotiated for months.
Common diplomatic phrasing.
L'auteur a laborieusement remanié son manuscrit avant publication.
The author laboriously reworked his manuscript before publication.
Editorial context.
Le blessé s'est laborieusement extrait de la carcasse de la voiture.
The injured man laboriously extracted himself from the car wreck.
Intense physical struggle.
Il s'est laborieusement forgé une place dans ce milieu compétitif.
He laboriously carved out a place for himself in this competitive environment.
Figurative 'carving' or 'forging'.
La vérité a laborieusement émergé après une longue enquête.
The truth laboriously emerged after a long investigation.
Abstract emergence.
Les réformes ont été laborieusement mises en œuvre par le gouvernement.
The reforms were laboriously implemented by the government.
Administrative context.
Elle a laborieusement gravi les échelons de l'entreprise.
She laboriously climbed the corporate ladder.
Professional progression.
Le poète a laborieusement cherché la rime parfaite.
The poet laboriously searched for the perfect rhyme.
Specific creative search.
Le texte, laborieusement structuré, manquait toutefois de spontanéité.
The text, laboriously structured, nevertheless lacked spontaneity.
Adverbial phrase with a critical tone.
La démocratie s'est laborieusement installée après des décennies de dictature.
Democracy laboriously established itself after decades of dictatorship.
Historical/Political nuance.
L'intrigue se dénoue laborieusement dans le dernier chapitre.
The plot laboriously unravels in the last chapter.
Literary criticism.
Il a laborieusement tenté de justifier ses actes contradictoires.
He laboriously attempted to justify his contradictory acts.
Psychological nuance.
Les fondations du bâtiment ont été laborieusement creusées dans le granit.
The building's foundations were laboriously dug into the granite.
Technical/Physical difficulty.
Elle a laborieusement acquis une érudition qui force le respect.
She laboriously acquired an erudition that commands respect.
Intellectual achievement.
Le consensus s'est laborieusement dégagé au terme d'une nuit blanche.
A consensus laboriously emerged at the end of an all-nighter.
Professional jargon.
Chaque mot semblait être laborieusement extrait de sa gorge serrée.
Each word seemed to be laboriously extracted from his tight throat.
Evocative, emotional description.
L'œuvre de Proust se déploie laborieusement, exigeant une attention soutenue du lecteur.
Proust's work unfolds laboriously, demanding sustained attention from the reader.
High-level literary analysis.
Le concept de souveraineté a été laborieusement théorisé par les juristes du XVIe siècle.
The concept of sovereignty was laboriously theorized by 16th-century jurists.
Academic history.
Le film pèche par une narration laborieusement didactique.
The film suffers from a laboriously didactic narration.
Sophisticated critique.
La réconciliation nationale chemine laborieusement sur un terrain miné par les rancœurs.
National reconciliation walks laboriously on ground mined by resentments.
Complex metaphor.
Il a laborieusement expié ses fautes par une vie de dévotion.
He laboriously atoned for his faults through a life of devotion.
Moral/Religious context.
Le système bureaucratique a laborieusement accouché d'une solution provisoire.
The bureaucratic system laboriously gave birth to a temporary solution.
Irony/Satire.
L'identité européenne se construit laborieusement au gré des crises successives.
European identity is being laboriously constructed through successive crises.
Geopolitical analysis.
La lumière filtrait laborieusement à travers les persiennes encrassées.
The light filtered laboriously through the grimy shutters.
Descriptive, atmospheric prose.
Sinônimos
Antônimos
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
— A task completed with great effort. It emphasizes the finality after a struggle.
Il contemple son travail laborieusement accompli.
— A hard-won agreement. Common in politics and business.
C'est un accord laborieusement trouvé entre les syndicats.
— A victory gained with difficulty. Often used in sports.
L'équipe fête sa victoire laborieusement acquise.
— To progress slowly, step by step. Emphasizes the slow pace.
Nous avançons laborieusement pas à pas vers la solution.
— A writing style that feels forced or over-thought. Often a critique.
Son style est laborieusement recherché, ce qui rend la lecture difficile.
— To painstakingly make one's way through something.
Il se fraye laborieusement un chemin dans la jungle.
— A peace that is difficult to keep. Suggests fragility.
C'est une paix laborieusement maintenue dans la région.
— A text translated with effort, often implying it's not perfect.
Voici un texte laborieusement traduit de l'ancien français.
— A life earned through hard work. Often refers to the working class.
Il respecte sa vie laborieusement gagnée à l'usine.
— A reputation built over a long time with much effort.
Il ne veut pa
Summary
The word 'laborieusement' is your go-to adverb for describing any task that felt like an uphill battle. Use it to emphasize the 'grind' and the slow pace of an achievement, such as: 'L'accord a été laborieusement trouvé' (The agreement was hard-won).
- An adverb meaning 'laboriously' or 'with great effort'.
- Describes slow, difficult progress in physical or mental tasks.
- Common in formal French, news, and literature.
- Can imply a lack of natural ease or fluidity in the result.
Exemplo
Il a laborieusement monté les escaliers avec sa lourde valise.
Conteúdo relacionado
Mais palavras de work
à distance
A2À distância, sem presença física no local.
à durée déterminée
B1For a fixed or definite period; fixed-term.
à durée indéterminée
B1De duração indeterminada; permanente.
à la fin
A2No final de algo.
à la journée
B1Diário, ou pela duração ou pagamento de um único dia.
à la semaine
B1Weekly, by the week.
à l'année
B1Annually, by the year.
à l'attention de
B1À atenção de; usado em correspondência formal para direcionar um documento a uma pessoa específica.
à l'avance
A2Fazer algo com antecedência ou antecipadamente.
à l'issue de
A2Ao final de; ao término de. É uma expressão formal usada para indicar a conclusão de um evento ou processo.
