le tonnerre et les éclairs
The English phrase "thunder and lightning" is translated into French as le tonnerre et les éclairs.
This phrase is used to describe the combination of the loud noise and the bright flashes of light that occur during a storm.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of le tonnerre, meaning "the thunder" and les éclairs, meaning "the lightning bolts".
Which one should you use?
While le tonnerre refers specifically to the sound of the storm, l'éclair refers to the visual flash of light.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for lightning, éclair, is a masculine noun.
Did you know?
- The phrase coup de foudre literally means 'a bolt of lightning' but is the standard French idiom for falling in love at first sight.
- The word éclair is also the name of a popular long pastry filled with cream. The name comes from the word's meaning as a flash of lightning, referring to how quickly the treat is eaten.
- While éclair refers to the flash of light, the French use the word foudre to describe the physical bolt of lightning that strikes the ground. English often uses 'lightning' for both.
Examples in context
- Le tonnerre et les éclairs font peur aux enfants.The thunder and the lightning scare the children.
