Détresse

Détresse is a French noun that denotes a state of extreme discomfort, danger, or hardship. It can refer to emotional suffering, physical pain, or adverse life circumstances that threaten well-being or safety. In everyday language it is commonly used for psychological distress, but it also covers material hardship or peril.

Origin and related terms: The word comes from Old French détresse and is cognate with the English distress; both derive from a common Romance root associated with constraint or trouble. In modern French, détresse is distinct from tristesse (sadness) and misère (poverty), though the terms may overlap in describing human suffering.

Contexts and applications: In psychology and health, détresse describes psychological distress or emotional suffering. In social policy, it refers to material or existential hardship affecting individuals or groups, such as poverty or social exclusion. In law and safety cultures, état de détresse or simply détresse denotes a state that justifies emergency actions or the need to aid others; in maritime and aviation contexts, a signal of détresse is a distress call (appel de détresse) such as SOS.

Usage: The term is feminine, used with adjectives such as grande détresse or détresse psychologique. The phrase en détresse describes someone or something that is suffering or in danger; collocations include détresse morale and détresse économique.

See also: Distress, SOS, appel de détresse, état de nécessité.