faint

faible, à peine perceptible

Si faible qu’on le voit, l’entend ou le sent difficilement.

En anglais simple : So weak that it is difficult to see, hear, or smell.

• We heard a faint sound.
• The writing was too faint to read.
• A faint smell of smoke came from the kitchen.

Synonymes : weak, dim, indistinct

Contraires : strong, clear

Expressions courantes : faint light, faint sound, faint smell

faible, léger

Très peu important en quantité ou en intensité.

En anglais simple : Very small in amount or degree; only slight.

• She gave a faint smile.
• There is a faint chance of success.
• He showed only faint interest in our plan.

Synonymes : slight, small, minimal

Contraires : great, considerable

Expressions courantes : faint hope, faint smile, faint trace

faible, près de s'évanouir

Qui se sent si faible ou étourdi qu’il risque de perdre connaissance.

En anglais simple : Feeling so weak or dizzy that you might become unconscious.

• I feel faint.
• He became faint in the heat.
• She felt faint after standing up too quickly.

Comment l'utiliser : faint with something (After walking all day, she was faint with hunger.)

Synonymes : lightheaded, weak, dizzy

Expressions courantes : feel faint, faint with hunger, faint and dizzy

s'évanouir

Perdre soudainement connaissance pendant un court moment.

En anglais simple : To suddenly become unconscious for a short time.

• He fainted in the kitchen.
• I nearly fainted when I saw the blood.
• Did anyone faint during the long ceremony?

Comment l'utiliser : faint from something (He fainted from the heat.); faint at something (She fainted at the sight of blood.)

Synonymes : pass out, lose consciousness

Expressions courantes : faint from heat, faint at something, nearly faint, faint from something

s'effacer, disparaître

Devenir de plus en plus faible ou moins visible, jusqu’à disparaître.

En anglais simple : To become weaker or less visible until nothing remains.

• The golden clouds fainted away.
• We watched the distant glow faint into darkness.
• As evening fell, the colours began to faint.

Synonymes : fade, vanish, disappear

Contraires : appear

Expressions courantes : faint away, faint into darkness

évanouissement, syncope

Brève perte de connaissance qui survient soudainement.

En anglais simple : A short period when someone suddenly becomes unconscious.

• She fell down in a faint.
• He soon recovered from his faint.
• The sudden heat brought on a brief faint.

Synonymes : fainting spell, blackout, syncope

Expressions courantes : in a faint, into a faint, after a faint