lhumeur

Lhumeur is a term used in French-speaking contexts to denote a person’s current mood or temper. It can refer to a temporary affective state that colors perception, thought, and behavior, or to the broader emotional climate of a moment or situation. In everyday language, phrases such as être de bonne humeur or être de mauvaise humeur express a positive or negative mood.

Etymology: The expression comes from l'humeur, from Old French humeur, from Latin humor, meaning moisture or fluid. Historically connected with the idea that bodily fluids influence temperament, the term has evolved to cover both physiological and psychological senses of mood.

Psychological distinctions: In psychology, mood is contrasted with emotion (a discrete, often intense experience tied to a specific trigger) and with temperament (enduring traits). Mood tends to be diffuse, longer-lasting, and less specific than an emotion. It can influence memory, judgment, and decision-making, and it may shift gradually over hours or days.

Measurement and clinical relevance: Mood is assessed with self-report scales and clinical interviews. Persistent mood disturbances can indicate mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. Mood fluctuations may be influenced by sleep, circadian rhythms, medications, substances, health, and stress.

Cultural and linguistic usage: The term is also used to describe the atmosphere of places or events, as in l'humeur du moment. Common expressions include être de bonne humeur (to be in a good mood) and de mauvaise humeur (in a bad mood). The concept remains central to everyday communication as well as to psychological and medical understandings of affect.