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gêné

embarrassed

adjective zheh-NAY Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Also means

uncomfortable

Usage Note

Gêné can express social embarrassment ('I felt awkward') or physical discomfort ('I felt constricted/tight'). It is the past participle of gêner used adjectivally; the feminine form is gênée. The related noun gêne means both 'embarrassment' and 'hardship/difficulty'.

Examples

"Il semblait gêné par la question."

Natural Translation

He seemed embarrassed by the question.

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