La panne
Example: La panne d'électricité a duré toute la nuit dans le quartier.
Definition
"La panne" refers to a failure or breakdown in a system or machine, especially an electrical outage. It indicates the interruption of normal functioning, such as when electricity stops working in a certain area, causing inconvenience or disruption.
Etymology
The term "la panne" comes from Old French, originally meaning a low-lying area or depression, which metaphorically extended to mean a failure or breakdown. Over time, it came to be commonly used for mechanical or electrical failures, reflecting a 'stuck' or 'stalled' state.
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"La panne" appears in the Vocaplus list "French - Energy - (A1-C2) - set 1", containing 110 commonly used words.
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