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gémissement

groan

noun zheh-mees-MAHN Rare

Also means

moan

Usage Note

Gémissement describes the sound made in pain, grief, or distress; it can also describe a mournful, creaking sound made by a door or wind. The verb gémir means 'to groan/moan'. Pousser un gémissement ('to let out a groan') is the typical collocating phrase. The word is more literary than conversational.

Examples

"On entendait ses gémissements de douleur."

Natural Translation

His groans of pain could be heard.

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