sourd

deaf

adjective SOOR Less Common

Origin: Latin surdus (deaf, mute)

Also means

muffled, dull (of sound)

Usage Note

Sourd also describes muffled or muted sounds — un bruit sourd means a dull thud rather than a sharp crack. The noun un sourd refers to a deaf person, and the feminine form is sourde. The phrase faire la sourde oreille ('turn a deaf ear') is a very common idiom.

Examples

"Il est sourd depuis l'enfance."

Natural Translation

He has been deaf since childhood.

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