French Word of the Day: Peine
Briefly

The French word 'peine' carries various meanings but predominantly relates to suffering and effort. In legal contexts, it denotes penalties, like in 'La peine de mort'. Emotionally, it reflects sorrow for others, as in 'J'ai vraiment de la peine pour lui'. Furthermore, it's used to express the effort in performing tedious tasks, such as in 'cela n'en vaut pas la peine', which questions the value of the labor involved. Additionally, the phrase 'à peine' exists to indicate minimal effort or degree, augmenting the word’s nuanced use in the French language.
The French word 'peine' conveys various meanings, from legal penalties to emotional suffering, capturing struggle and effort in diverse contexts.
In legal contexts, 'peine' refers to punishment, exemplified by expressions like 'La peine de mort' or 'La peine d'inéligibilité', highlighting its formal significance.
Beyond legal use, 'peine' embodies sorrow or grief—expressing empathy for others, as in 'J'ai vraiment de la peine pour lui,' indicating shared emotional struggle.
'Peine' can also articulate effort, as in laborious tasks. Phrases like 'cela n'en vaut pas la peine' signify the bargain between effort and outcome.
Read at The Local France
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