Lenteur

Lenteur is a French noun that denotes the state or quality of being slow. It describes a slow pace of movement, action, or temporal passage, and can apply to people, processes, or events. The term is commonly used neutrally to describe speed without value judgment, though in everyday language it may carry connotations of inefficiency or patience, depending on context.

Etymology and related terms: Lenteur comes from Old French lenteur, from lente “slow,” which in turn derives from Latin lentus meaning slow. In modern French, lenteur is contrasted with vitesse (speed) and rapidité (rapidity).

Usage and contexts: In daily speech, one may speak of the lenteur d'un service, the lenteur d'un véhicule, or the lenteur of a process. In music, lenteur can designate a very slow tempo; the terms lent or lento are used in various languages to indicate slow speed. In psychology and phenomenology, lenteur is used to discuss subjective time, where time may seem to pass more slowly under certain conditions. In cinema and literature, the concept of lenteur is associated with deliberate pacing, long takes, silence, and contemplative mood, sometimes described as slow cinema.

Cultural and philosophical notes: The discourse around lenteur intersects with debates on efficiency, attention, and care. Some value lenteur as a deliberate, meaningful pace that fosters reflection, while others view it as a barrier to productivity. The term is also used in discussions of time management and design to emphasize human-scale experiences.