Usage Note
Fredonner specifically means to hum a melody softly, without fully singing the words. It is more delicate than chantonner (to hum or sing softly in a more general sense). The word appears in many literary descriptions of characters absorbed in thought or in a pleasant mood, making it a useful addition to descriptive writing.
Examples
"Elle fredonnait une vieille chanson en faisant la cuisine."
Natural Translation
She was humming an old song while cooking.
Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
