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How to Say ‘Is the pain severe?’ in French

La douleur est forte ?

lah doo-LUR ay fort

[lah doo-LUR ay fort]

💬 Usage Tip: A direct and common way to ask about intensity. You could answer: Oui, un peu / oui, très forte.

🇫🇷 In France: You may also hear similar questions like C'est supportable ? ('Is it bearable?').

Phrase Breakdown

La douleur

lah doo-LUR

the pain

Refers to the pain itself, often used in medical conversations.

Example

La douleur est constante.

The pain is constant.

Words in this phrase

La

[lah]

the

Feminine singular article introducing douleur.

Example

La douleur est forte depuis ce matin.

The pain has been severe since this morning.

douleur

[doo-LUR]

pain

Medical term for pain or ache.

Example

La douleur est forte quand je respire.

The pain is severe when I breathe.

Est forte ?

ay fort

is it strong?

Asks about the intensity of the pain.

Example

La douleur est forte ce matin ?

Is the pain strong this morning?

Words in this phrase

est

[ay]

is

Verb être in the present tense, used here in a question.

Example

La douleur est plus forte après manger.

The pain is stronger after eating.

forte

[fort]

strong / severe

Describes the intensity of pain; feminine form because douleur is feminine.

Example

La douleur est forte la nuit et le matin.

The pain is severe at night and in the morning.

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