tristesse
sadness
Beginner Noun Feminine
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Pronunciation
/tʁis.tɛs/
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Cultural Note
Françoise Sagan's famous novel 'Bonjour Tristesse' (1954) brought this word into international consciousness. The French literary tradition often treats sadness as a complex, even valuable emotion rather than something purely negative.
📝 Example Sentences
Une grande tristesse se lisait dans ses yeux.
A great sadness could be read in his eyes.
Il essayait de cacher sa tristesse.
He was trying to hide his sadness.