pénible

Pénible is a French adjective used to describe something or someone that causes pain, trouble, or fatigue. It can refer to physical hardship, emotional strain, a tedious task, or a difficult person. The term carries a negative evaluation, but its strength varies with context, from mild annoyance to real hardship.

Etymology and meaning: the word derives from Latin poenibilis, meaning painful or troublesome, linked to poena (penalty, punishment). It entered French throughOld French and evolved into the modern sense of something that is burdensome or unpleasant to endure.

Usage and nuance: pénible can describe a situation (for example, a long or dangerous journey), a task (a pénible job), or a person (un collègue pénible). In spoken French, "C'est pénible" often means "That’s annoying" or "That’s a hassle," while "pénible" about a person emphasizes irritability or difficulty in dealing with them. The term can indicate physical discomfort, moral burden, or social friction, and it is less vulgar than some alternatives.

Morphology and related terms: pénible agrees in gender and number (un travail pénible, une journée pénible, des tâches pénibles). The adverbial form is péniblement. Related nouns include pénibilité (the state or quality of being painful or arduous). Common synonyms include fatigant, ardu, pénible; antonyms include agréable, facile, plaisant.

Examples: Le trajet est pénible en hiver. C'est pénible de répéter sans cesse. Ce collègue est pénible à supporter. Des tâches pénibles attendent l’équipe.