Dictionary
English - French

Sigh

saɪ
Extremely common
200 - 300
200 - 300
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

soupir, soupir de désespoir, soupir d'ennui, soupirer

Sigh meanings in French

soupir

Example:
She let out a sigh of relief after finishing the exam.
Elle a poussé un soupir de soulagement après avoir terminé l'examen.
He sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his responsibilities.
Il a soupiré profondément, ressentant le poids de ses responsabilités.
Usage: informalContext: Expressing feelings of relief, fatigue, or frustration.
Note: The verb 'soupirer' is often used to express emotions such as relief or sadness.

soupir de désespoir

Example:
With a sigh of despair, she realized she had lost her wallet.
Avec un soupir de désespoir, elle réalisa qu'elle avait perdu son portefeuille.
He gave a sigh of despair when he heard the bad news.
Il a poussé un soupir de désespoir en entendant les mauvaises nouvelles.
Usage: informalContext: Expressing feelings of hopelessness or disappointment.
Note: This phrase is used to convey a strong sense of giving up or losing hope.

soupir d'ennui

Example:
She let out a sigh of boredom during the long lecture.
Elle a laissé échapper un soupir d'ennui pendant la longue conférence.
He sighed in boredom while waiting for his friend.
Il a soupiré d'ennui en attendant son ami.
Usage: informalContext: Expressing feelings of boredom or impatience.
Note: This expression indicates a lack of interest or enthusiasm.

soupirer

Example:
She tends to sigh when she is frustrated.
Elle a tendance à soupirer quand elle est frustrée.
He often sighs when he is deep in thought.
Il soupire souvent quand il est plongé dans ses pensées.
Usage: informalContext: Describing the act of sighing as a physical response.
Note: The verb 'soupirer' can be used in various contexts, including expressing thoughts and feelings.

Sigh's synonyms

exhale

To breathe out air noisily and forcefully, often as a sign of relief, exhaustion, or frustration.
Example: She let out a deep exhale before speaking.
Note: Exhale specifically refers to the act of breathing out, while a sigh involves a more audible and expressive exhalation.

breathe out

To expel air from the lungs, often audibly, as a way of expressing emotions such as sadness, resignation, or weariness.
Example: He closed his eyes and slowly breathed out, releasing all the tension.
Note: This synonym directly conveys the action of exhaling air, similar to a sigh, but may not always carry the emotional connotations associated with sighing.

moan

To make a low, prolonged sound expressing pain, discomfort, or sorrow.
Example: The wind made the old house creak and moan as if it were alive.
Note: While moaning can convey a similar sense of emotional release as sighing, it tends to be more associated with sounds of pain or distress rather than resignation or relief.

Sigh expressions, common phrases

Let out a sigh

To audibly exhale in a way that expresses relief, exhaustion, or frustration.
Example: She let out a deep sigh after a long day at work.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the act of exhaling audibly, rather than just the simple act of sighing.

Heave a sigh of relief

To sigh deeply as a sign of being relieved or reassured.
Example: When he heard the good news, he heaved a sigh of relief.
Note: This phrase specifically indicates a deep sigh that signifies relief or comfort.

Sigh of resignation

A sigh that expresses acceptance of a situation that is difficult or unwelcome.
Example: She let out a sigh of resignation when she realized she had missed the deadline.
Note: This phrase conveys a sense of accepting a situation without much hope for change.

Sigh with contentment

To sigh in a way that shows satisfaction, happiness, or peace.
Example: As she sat by the fireplace with a cup of tea, she sighed with contentment.
Note: This phrase indicates a sigh of satisfaction or pleasure rather than a sigh of frustration or exhaustion.

Long sigh

A sigh that is extended or drawn out, often indicating deep emotions or thoughts.
Example: He let out a long sigh before starting the difficult task.
Note: This phrase highlights the duration or intensity of the sigh, suggesting a deeper emotional state.

Sigh of disappointment

A sigh that conveys a sense of being let down or disheartened.
Example: After the results were announced, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of disappointment.
Note: This phrase specifically relates to expressing disappointment through a sigh.

Heavy sigh

A deep and weighty sigh usually indicating a burdened or troubled state of mind.
Example: With a heavy sigh, he admitted his mistake.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the weight or burden associated with the sigh, suggesting a deeper emotional impact.

Sigh of frustration

A sigh that expresses annoyance, impatience, or exasperation.
Example: Unable to figure out the problem, she let out a sigh of frustration.
Note: This phrase specifically highlights the feeling of frustration conveyed through the sigh.

Collective sigh of relief

A shared expression of relief or relaxation by a group of people.
Example: When the storm passed, the entire neighborhood let out a collective sigh of relief.
Note: This phrase indicates a communal act of sighing that signifies shared relief or comfort.

Sigh everyday (slang) expressions

Ugh

Used to express frustration, annoyance, or dissatisfaction.
Example: Ugh, I can't believe I forgot my keys again!
Note: While a sigh typically denotes a sound expressing weariness or relief, 'ugh' is more about expressing irritation or disappointment.

Facepalm

A gesture of bringing one's hand to the face to show disbelief, embarrassment, or frustration.
Example: Facepalm, I can't believe I made that mistake.
Note: Facepalming involves a physical action of placing one's palm on the face, usually in response to a foolish action, unlike a sigh which is a sound.

Eye-roll

A gesture of rolling one's eyes often done to show disbelief, annoyance, or exasperation.
Example: She gave him an eye-roll when he made that lame joke.
Note: An eye-roll involves a visible physical action of rotating the eyes upwards, contrasting with the more audible sigh.

Meh

Used to convey indifference or lack of enthusiasm.
Example: I asked him if he wanted to go out, and he just said 'meh'.
Note: While 'meh' signifies a lack of interest or enthusiasm, a sigh usually conveys a sense of tiredness or relief.

Uff

Often used in South Asian regions to express exasperation, weariness, or frustration.
Example: Uff, this traffic is never-ending!
Note: Similar to a sigh, 'uff' expresses weariness or frustration but is specific to certain cultural contexts where it is commonly used.

Boo-hoo

Used mockingly to imitate someone crying or whining.
Example: He kept boo-hooing about his lost wallet all afternoon.
Note: Unlike a sigh which is a sound of exhalation, 'boo-hoo' is an onomatopoeic term mimicking the sound of crying.

Pfft

Used to indicate disbelief, dismissal, or derision.
Example: Pfft, as if I would fall for that trick.
Note: While sighing conveys a sense of resignation or relief, 'pfft' is more about expressing skepticism or disbelief.

Sigh - Examples

She let out a deep sigh when she heard the bad news.
Elle a poussé un profond soupir en entendant la mauvaise nouvelle.
He sighed with relief when he finally finished the difficult task.
Il a soupiré de soulagement lorsqu'il a enfin terminé la tâche difficile.
The old man sighed as he looked out the window, remembering his youth.
Le vieil homme a soupiré en regardant par la fenêtre, se souvenant de sa jeunesse.

Sigh grammar

Sigh - Proper noun (Proper noun) / Proper noun, singular (Proper noun, singular)
Lemma: sigh
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): sighs
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): sigh
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): sighed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): sighing
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): sighs
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): sigh
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): sigh
Syllables, Separation and Stress
sigh Contains 1 syllables: sigh
Phonetic transcription: ˈsī
sigh , ˈsī (The red syllable is stressed)

Sigh - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
sigh: 200 - 300 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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