Sueur

Sueur is the French noun for sweat, the fluid secreted by the sweat glands of the skin. It plays a key role in thermoregulation by promoting cooling when it evaporates, and it also helps with the excretion of small amounts of metabolic waste. In everyday language, the word is usually used to describe the appearance or sensation of perspiring in response to heat, physical effort, or stress.

Etymology and usage. The term derives from the Old French verb suer, and the corresponding noun s ueur; both trace back to Latin sudor, meaning sweat. In modern French, suer and sueur cover both normal perspiration and related physiological or medical discussions.

Physiology. Sweat is produced by two main types of glands: eccrine glands, which are distributed widely across the skin and produce a clear, odorless sweat primarily for cooling; and apocrine glands, concentrated in areas such as the armpits and groin, which secrete a thicker fluid that can develop odor when decomposed by bacteria. Sweating is influenced by ambient temperature, physical activity, emotional stress, hormonal changes, and certain medications or medical conditions.

Medical context. In medical terms, excessive sweating is called hyperhidrose. Cold sweat, or sueur froide, is a symptom seen in various conditions, including shock, illness, or intense anxiety. The concept of sweating also intersects with the broader term transpiration used in biology and physiology.

Cultural and linguistic notes. In French, common expressions include être en sueur (to be sweating heavily) and avoir/souffrir de la sueur in specific contexts. Outside of medical or linguistic usage, the word remains a standard term for the bodily fluid and its everyday implications.