étouffé
The English word "muffled" is translated into French as étouffé.
étouffé is used both for sounds that are dampened by a physical barrier and for emotions or actions that are suppressed or stifled.
Meaning: stifled or covered up (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective comes from the verb étouffer, which means to stifle, smother or suffocate.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, so use étouffée for feminine nouns and étouffés or étouffées for plural nouns.
Did you know?
- In French cooking, étouffée refers to a traditional Cajun stew where the ingredients are slowly smothered in a rich sauce. The name comes from the same root as 'muffled' and 'stifled'.
- The verb étouffer is used in French legal contexts to describe the act of 'hushing up' a scandal or suppressing evidence, such as étouffer l'affaire.
- When a French speaker says they feel étouffé in a relationship, they are describing a feeling of being claustrophobic or overly controlled, not physically muffled.
Examples in context
- Sami a entendu une voix étouffée.Sami heard a muffled voice.This sentence shows how to use étouffé to describe a voice.Tatoeba #13380334 by aviannek, translation #7146419 by OsoHombre
- Yanni a entendu une voix étouffée.Yanni heard a muffled voice.Tatoeba #13380332 by aviannek, translation #9242131 by Amastan
- J'ai encore entendu un cri étouffé.I heard the muffled scream again.This sentence shows how to use étouffé to describe a scream.Tatoeba #13380335 by aviannek, translation #12913993 by Asif
- Le son était atténuéThe sound was muffled
- La voix était étoufféeThe voice was muffled
- La musique est en sourdineThe music is muffled or the music is on low volume
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are in a house and hear a noise from another room.
- LéaTu entends ce bruit étouffé ?Do you hear that muffled noise?
- HugoOui, ça vient de la chambre.Yes, it is coming from the bedroom.
- LéaOn dirait un rire étouffé.It sounds like a muffled laugh.
- HugoJe vais aller voir ce que c'est.I will go see what it is.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
