tonnerre

thunder

noun toh-NEHR Less Common

Origin: Latin tonitrus

Usage Note

Tonnerre is the sound of thunder, distinct from éclair (lightning flash). The exclamation sacré tonnerre! or tonnerre de Dieu! is a mild old-fashioned oath. The expression du tonnerre colloquially means 'fantastic' or 'amazing'.

Examples

"Le tonnerre a grondé toute la nuit."

Natural Translation

Thunder rumbled all night.

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