French Word of the Day: Calvaire
This word, with biblical connotations, perhaps reflects the condition of many in these times we are living in.
Why do I need to know calvaire?
Because life is suffering - according to Buddha, at least.
What does it mean?
Calvaire, pronounced cal-vare, is a noun that is generally used to mean: ordeal, misery, plight or pain.
You can also translate it as calvary, a little-used and archaic English word of the same meaning.
Today, many people use calvaire ironically to exaggerate the gravity of a situation or make things out to be worse than they really are.
Le Calvaire is also how the French translate the name of Golgotha - the hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was supposedly crucified.
A less common usage of calvaire is as a synonym for crucifixion and to describe outside Christian monuments composed of one or sometimes three crucifixes.
In Quebecois, calvaire is used as a swear-word, loosely translating as fuck or bloody hell.
This calvaire, or calvary, in Brittany is one of thousands in the western French region. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)
Use it like this
Nous sommes en train de vivre un véritable calvaire - We are living through a true ordeal
Le calvaire des enfants qui sont victimes de la guerre a mobilisé l'attention du monde entier - The suffering of child victims of the war caught the attention of the whole world
On peut imaginer le calvaire que vit cette personne - We can imagine the misery of this person
On a vécu un calvaire - We went through hell
Sondage de la présidentielle : Macron insubmersible, le calvaire de Pécresse - Presidential poll: Unstoppable Macron, the misery of Pécresse
Synonyms
There are plenty of ways to write about suffering in French. In the interest of laïcité, you can find some non-biblical ones below:
La souffrance - Suffering
Le deuil - Grief
La douleur - Pain
La tristesse - Sadness
La galère - Misery
Le supplice - Ordeal
La peine - Heartache
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know calvaire?
Because life is suffering - according to Buddha, at least.
What does it mean?
Calvaire, pronounced cal-vare, is a noun that is generally used to mean: ordeal, misery, plight or pain.
You can also translate it as calvary, a little-used and archaic English word of the same meaning.
Today, many people use calvaire ironically to exaggerate the gravity of a situation or make things out to be worse than they really are.
Le Calvaire is also how the French translate the name of Golgotha - the hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was supposedly crucified.
A less common usage of calvaire is as a synonym for crucifixion and to describe outside Christian monuments composed of one or sometimes three crucifixes.
In Quebecois, calvaire is used as a swear-word, loosely translating as fuck or bloody hell.
Use it like this
Nous sommes en train de vivre un véritable calvaire - We are living through a true ordeal
Le calvaire des enfants qui sont victimes de la guerre a mobilisé l'attention du monde entier - The suffering of child victims of the war caught the attention of the whole world
On peut imaginer le calvaire que vit cette personne - We can imagine the misery of this person
On a vécu un calvaire - We went through hell
Sondage de la présidentielle : Macron insubmersible, le calvaire de Pécresse - Presidential poll: Unstoppable Macron, the misery of Pécresse
Synonyms
There are plenty of ways to write about suffering in French. In the interest of laïcité, you can find some non-biblical ones below:
La souffrance - Suffering
Le deuil - Grief
La douleur - Pain
La tristesse - Sadness
La galère - Misery
Le supplice - Ordeal
La peine - Heartache
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