La panne
Example: La panne de courant a paralysé toute la ville pendant des heures.
Definition
"La panne" refers to a failure or breakdown, typically of machinery or equipment, that causes it to stop functioning. For example, "La panne de courant" means a power outage that disrupts electricity supply, leading to interruptions in normal operations.
Etymology
The term "la panne" comes from Old French, originally meaning a flat, open area or clearing. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe a stop or failure in functioning, especially in mechanical contexts. Did you know that the modern usage of "la panne" as a breakdown became common with the rise of industrial machinery?
Learn to use this word actively
"La panne" appears in the Vocaplus list "French - General - (C1) - set 2", containing 116 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select French as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
