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panne

breakdown, failure

noun PAN Less Common

Usage Note

Panne most commonly refers to a mechanical breakdown — tomber en panne means to break down (of a car or device). Une panne d'électricité is a power cut. The word also appears in être en panne d'idées, meaning to be out of ideas.

Examples

"La voiture est tombée en panne sur l'autoroute."

Natural Translation

The car broke down on the motorway.

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