Pénible (en. Hard)

/pe.nibl/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
adjective
Causing difficulty or boredom.
This hiking trail is really arduous.
Ce parcours de randonnée est vraiment pénible.
Requiring a lot of effort or time.
The work he put in is difficult but rewarding.
Le travail qu'il a fourni est pénible mais récompensant.
Annoying or unpleasant.
The questions on this test are particularly troublesome.
Les questions de ce test sont particulièrement pénibles.

Etymology

From the Latin 'penibilis', meaning 'that which can be endured with difficulty'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

it's hard
It's annoying or unpleasant.
c'est pénible
a tedious task
A difficult or arduous task.
une tâche pénible
to have a difficult character
To have a temperament that is hard to endure.
avoir un caractère pénible

Related Words

pain
State of suffering or difficulty.
peine
subject of complaint
A theme or subject that provokes complaints.
sujet de plainte

Slang Meanings

It's a drag
Waiting at the museum is a drag.
L'attente au musée, c'est relou.
It's a pain in the neck
This meeting is really boring.
Cette réunion est vraiment chiante.