Usage Note
Bourdonner describes the sustained low hum of bees, engines, or electrical equipment, and also the ringing or buzzing sensation in one's ears (les oreilles lui bourdonnent). The related noun is bourdonnement (buzzing, hum). It is onomatopoeic in origin.
Examples
"Les abeilles bourdonnaient autour des fleurs."
Natural Translation
The bees were buzzing around the flowers.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
6 min read
FrenchNow
5 min read