désespoir
/de.zɛs.pwaʁ/masculine
The English phrase despair is translated into French as désespoir.
désespoir is a noun used to describe the state of a loss of hope. You may encounter the phrase en plein désespoir to describe someone who is in the midst of despair or in the depths of it.
Meaning: loss of hope (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word désespoir is formed from the prefix dés-, which denotes negation or reversal and espoir, meaning hope.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
désespoir is a masculine noun and is typically used with the definite article le (le désespoir).
How do you pronounce it?
/de.zɛs.pwaʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase je n'en désespère pas uses the verb form of 'despair' to ironically signal that a speaker still maintains a tiny glimmer of hope.
- During the 19th century, le désespoir became a defining characteristic of le mal du siècle, a specific cultural melancholy felt by youth after the fall of Napoleon.
- The adjective désespérant can describe something that is simply pathetic or annoying, such as a person's lack of common sense, rather than a tragedy.
Examples in context
- Ce fut un cri de désespoir.It was a cry of despair.This sentence shows how to use désespoir in the context of a cry.Tatoeba #1281917 by sacredceltic, translation #1281924 by Eldad
- Tu m'as laissé dans le désespoir.You left me in despair.This sentence illustrates the use of désespoir to describe a state of being left in a certain condition.Tatoeba #332292 by TRANG, translation #25488 by ToxicFriu
- Il pleura d'amères larmes de désespoir.He cried bitter tears of despair.This sentence demonstrates using désespoir to describe the source of tears.Tatoeba #1080711 by sacredceltic, translation #8919957 by sundown
- Je suis dans le désespoir le plus totalI am in utter despair
- Son échec a provoqué un abattement profondHis failure caused deep despair
- Elle est plongée dans un chagrin intenseShe is immersed in intense despair
- Ces mauvaises nouvelles ont accentué ma morositéThis bad news has deepened my sense of despair
- Son manque de résultats l'a plongé dans un découragement profondHis lack of results plunged him into deep despair
- Son divorce l'a plongé dans un désespoir profond.His divorce plunged him into deep despair.
- Après son échec, il a ressenti un abattement insoutenable.After his failure, he felt an unbearable dejection.
- Les mauvaises nouvelles ont accentué ma morosité déjà présente.The bad news deepened my already existing gloom.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are discussing a difficult project.
- LéaJe suis au bord du désespoir avec ce projet.I am on the verge of despair with this project.
- HugoNe perds pas espoir, Léa, on va réussir.Don't lose hope, Léa, we will succeed.
- LéaMais c'est trop difficile, c'est le désespoir !But it's too difficult, it's hopeless!
- HugoRespire, Hugo est là pour t'aider.Breathe, Hugo is here to help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “despair” translations and entries désespoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
